Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
Photo by PBA Image

Basketball

Pinto signing to address Pringle absence, says Cone


It didn’t take long for Ginebra to address Stanley Pringle’s absence.

Days after disclosing that the former BPC won’t return for the PBA Governors’ Cup, the Barangay inked Nards Pinto to a three-year deal on Thursday in one of the first movements of the league’s first batch of legit unrestricted free agents.

“We wanted to provide depth to our guard position because of Stanley’s absence,” said coach Tim Cone. Last Saturday, he tweeted in response to a fan that Pringle will remain out for three months after surgery on his left meniscus.

Pinto is surely a welcome addition to the Gin Kings’ backcourt. They have mostly relied on LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, and young guns Kent Salado and Brian Enriquez with Pringle and veteran guard-forward Jared Dillinger out.

Dillinger has also been ruled out of the season due to a torn patellar tendon he suffered in practice. He and Pringle are among those in the injury/reserved list, together with Mark Caguioa, Joe Devance, and Aljon Mariano.

Another thing that Cone and Co. really appreciate about the former Arellano University standout is the ‘toughness and experience’ he can provide to Ginebra, who’s aiming to defend its Governors’ Cup title.

Well, the Gin Kings sure know what they’re getting from Pinto.

The 5-foot-11 gunner has quite become familiar with the crowd darlings, having played against him many times — especially when he became part of Meralco in 2019 that saw them fight for the season-ending tilt’s crown in the same season.

Pinto and the Bolts had a chance to atone for that heartbreaking Finals loss when they came seconds away from booting out their bitter foes in the 2020 Philippine Cup semis in Clark, until Thompson crushed their aspirations.

#ReadMore  PBA: Pogoy, Williams key wire-to-wire Game 2 win as TNT evens series

Now, he gets to be on the other side of the rivalry — just like what Dillinger did in 2019 when he signed with the Barangay after being placed by the MVP ball club in the UFA list in a decision that turned out to be so worth it.

“We like him because he brings a lot of toughness and experience to the position,” said Cone.

All PBA games stream live on GigaPlay. Download it now on Android or IOS.

The second game of each playdate is also livestreamed on SMART Sports.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

It may no longer be just about making the necessary adjustments for head coach Tim Cone and the rest of Barangay Ginebra after losing...

Basketball

TNT leaned on its hot shooting from beyond the arc early to beat Barangay Ginebra, 95-89, and gain the head start in the PBA...

Basketball

To say that their careers are forever intertwined may sound cliche, but that’s basically been the reality Tim Cone and Chot Reyes live in....

Basketball

Stephen Holt may find himself guarding another Best Player of the Conference candidate when the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals gets rolling. Last...

Basketball

Jamie Malonzo is itching to play in the PBA Finals again after sitting helplessly on the sidelines during Barangay Ginebra’s previous trip to the...

Basketball

Justin Brownlee is hoping to flip the script this time as Ginebra and TNT author another chapter to their rivalry in the PBA Season...

Basketball

Troy Rosario feels excited to go up against the team he started out with as Ginebra and TNT will duke it out in the...

Basketball

RJ Abarrientos is under no illusion that things would be easier for Barangay Ginebra in its upcoming rematch with TNT in the PBA Season...

Advertisement