Johnedel Cardel and Stanley Pringle find themselves reuniting following the blockbuster trade between Terrafirma and Ginebra on Saturday.
The Dyip head coach and the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup BPC will be working together once more, years after doing so with the GlobalPort franchise.
Needless to say, Cardel feels thrilled – as he is with the entire deal, as they will also have Christian Standhardinger after shipping Stephen Holt and Isaac Go in a deal that also involved an exchange of first-round picks in Sunday’s draft.
“With Stanley Pringle, kakilala ko na ‘yan noong rookie ‘yan with GlobalPort,” he proudly told Tiebreaker Times.
“Wala tayong problema riyan.”
Pringle was the first overall pick by the Batang Pier franchise and Cardel, at that time, was serving as a deputy of chief mentor Pido Jarencio.
They would eventually part ways, though, when the former cager turned coach was brought to Columbian and became its lead think-tank in 2018.
The Fil-Am guard, on the other hand, would be traded to the Kings the following year in exchange for Sol Mercado, Jervy Cruz, and Kevin Ferrer.
Still, the connection was never lost between them and that’s because it runs deep, for they have met one another before teaming up in GlobalPort.
The two have crossed paths in the ASEAN Basketball League. Pringle and his Indonesia Warriors swept the Philippine Patriots – in which Cardel was an assistant to Glenn Capacio – in the best-of-3 semifinals back in 2012.
The Jakarta-based ball club eventually took home the crown by beating the San Miguel Beermen in the Finals, 2-1. And two years later, Pringle would take his act to the PBA, where he’s won four championships so far.
(C) ABL
“Kalaban ko yan! Then GlobalPort, ako ‘yung skills coach. Sa amin ‘yan si Stanley. I’m very close with Stanley before,” recalled Cardel.
“‘Pag nagshu-shooting yan, ako nagaabot ng bola riyan. Before and after, mag-shooting ‘yang batang ‘yan. Very hardworking player ‘yan.”
But it’s not just the reunion that excites Cardel. It’s also the fact that he will have two bona fide leaders in Pringle and, of course, in Standhardinger at his disposal that could bode well for a team looking for its first-ever semis trip.
“With Stanley and C-Stan, mga dominating ‘yan. Malaki maitutulong sa amin,” he said with optimism. “Maraming silang matutulungan na mga players ko. ‘Yung mga players ko from Terra, mag-eexcel sa kanila.
“Sila ‘yung magiging mata ko ngayon, sila ‘yung magiging leader ng team para makapasok ulit sa quarterfinals – or more. ‘Di ba?” the 54-year-old Cardel added.
“With Juami and Stanley and C-Stan, I’m happy.”
