Prior to the match against Alaska Friday, Globalport’s Stanley Pringle was on a roll when it comes creating shots for the Batang Pier. He had 12 assists in the team’s past two games and held a 22 percent assist rate.
That is on top of being the league’s third best scorer with 23.5 points a game. People can expect Pringle to continue his sizzling start in the conference, although the Aces showed why they are the league’s top defensive team.
Pringle did have 17 points but only dished out 2 assists on an assist rate of 9.8. Alaska made sure to put extra bodies on Pringle, knowing efficiency-wise, he is the Batang Pier’s top shot-creator.
“We had to make sure Terrence (Romeo) and Stanley (Pringle) won’t get easy lay-ups. It was stop the initial penetration and cover their shooters. It is not an easy but my guys did a good job,” Aces head coach Alex Compton said.
“We tried to keep them out of the paint because that is their biggest strength.”
Not working on the initial drives by Pringle would often result to the defense collapsing, and assisted three-point shots off kick-outs. None of that happened during the Aces’ 123-104 win over the Batang Pier, as the Aces seemingly dared others to beat them instead of the Batang Pier’s topnotch playmaker.
Globalport shot only 28 percent from deep. Pringle was also a minus-17. Romeo did manage to have a game-high 33 points and 5 assists, although shot only 10-for-25.
“I think Hydra has two heads and if you cut one off, you’d have a better chance. Getting Stanley into foul trouble was intentional and it worked. I don’t think I can figure out being able to stop both of them,” Compton shared, lauding his troops for their impressive defense on the Batang Pier backcourt duo.
“Wala akong masabi. Maganda ginawa ng mga player. Emphasis namin, walang kaya magstop kina Terrence. You have to do it as a team.”
Compton still spoke highly of the two superstars, saying there are times they would just make tough shots.
“Those guys are just special players. But we didn’t want to give them easy ones. Our team defense was the key. I know we gave up 104 but it was more of a high-possession game. Defensively we were solid,” Compton remarked. “Terrence and Stanley were making tough shots, anong gagawin mo dun. Hindi mo pwedeng pagalitan (yung defenders), they did a good job fundementally. These players just make superstar shots.”
Alaska improved to 4-1 with the win, sharing the pole position with defending Philippine Cup champion San Miguel. Compton said the intensity starts with pushing each other in practice, even if the Aces are among the oldest teams in the league.
“We got guys who don’t complain. We work on our defense hard every day and we run every day. That is a big thing. That is a picture of character. I have to tell those (old guys) to sit out in practice. They ask not to sit out. That makes us push in practice every day,” he shared.
