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Meralco coach Norman Black has great respect for Stanley Pringle and believes that Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is up there with some of the best players in the PBA.
“(Geneva) probably has the best player in the league in Stanley Pringle,” Black said as the Bolts prepare for another playoff battle with the Kings, this time in the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup that begins Wednesday. .
“I know some of the guys would say, you know, Matthew Wright and other guys. But to me, Stanley Pringle is probably one of the top three players in the league, ”Black added.
Pringle has shown Black’s sentiments within the PBA bubble after averaging 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists to help Geneva secure the top seed in the playoffs.
The speedy guard also delivered the decisive blows late despite struggling in Geneva’s quarter-final win over Rain or Shine last Friday, prompting coach Tim Cone to describe Pringle as his closer.
Having a Pringle who plays in good shape should pose problems for the Bolts, who must come up with a battle plan to end their constant misery against Geneva in the playoffs.
He was a threat during his first Test of the Geneva-Meralco fight last January, averaging 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists as the Kings captured the PBA Governor’s Cup crown in five games.
Pringle isn’t the only Geneva player on Black’s mind.
“Then you have the Scottie Thompson problem, who gives you versatility, and then the man in the middle Japeth Aguilar,” Black said.
Thompson averaged 11.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.3 steals while producing five double-double games, while it’s safe to assume that Aguilar has hit his best form after a slow start due to his late entry into the bubble.
Black bets on Raymond Almazan to counter Aguilar’s presence in the middle.
Almazan did the same during last season’s Governor’s Cup finals until the series took a drastic turn when he injured his knee during Game 3.
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