ROBERT Bolick more or less already had an inkling about Stanley Pringle leaving NorthPort.
Pringle himself was giving the rookie guard a portent of things to come in many of their conversations days before the biggest trade in the PBA this season was finally consummated,
Although Bolick was still surprised when the deal sending Pringle to Barangay Ginebra for the trio of Sol Mercado, Jervy Cruz, and Kevin Ferrer became official, he was nonetheless prepared for it by the guy he considers as a big brother and his first mentor in the pro league.
“Nararamdaman ko na ganun din ang mangyayari kasi pag mag-uusap kaming dalawa, parang pini-prepare niya na ako. Sabi niya, ‘always remember this is a business,’ ganun siya parati,” disclosed Bolick in the Batang Pier’s first game in the post-Pringle era Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Basta, ‘I’m always here, we’re always open,’ gumaganun na siya. So may nararamdaman na ako.”
It saddened last year’s No. 3 overall pick in the draft that he only got to work with Pringle in just a short time, only for a conference to be exact.
How he wished it would have been longer, according to Bolick, who admitted crying when the news about the trade reached him.
“Gusto ko siyang makasama ng mas matagal. One conference lang, madami pa sana akong matututunan. Kung ano meron ako ngayon laro ko, lahat, sa kanya ko natututunan yun,” he said.
“Feeling ko mas mag-improve pa ako ng malaki kahit siguro one year lang. Gusto kong maging selfish. Gusto ko muna siyang makasama ng matagal."
So sudden was the trade that Pringle failed to say goodbye to his teammates and the entire franchise, which had been home to him for almost six seasons or since being picked no. 1 overall by the organization in the 2014 draft.
And so the 32-year-old Fil-Am made sure to be with the team before and after its game against Rain or Shine at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Bolick disclosed Pringle, he with the thick beard and the stoic face, shed tears when he finally said his farewell to the Batang Pier.
“First time ko siya nakitang umiyak. Yun ang leader,” he said. “Correct me if I’m wrong, pero bihira ka lang makakita ng brusko na sobrang gagaling na iiyak diyan sa harap mo.
“Kasi buong career niya nandito siya. Hindi mo nakikita yung emotions ni Stanley, tahimik lang yan. Then makikita mo siyang ganun,” Bolick added. “We love him, pero yun nga, kalaban na siya. Pero sa puso naming, hindi naming makakalimutan.”
Bolick made sure Pringle noticed and saw whatever he taught him in the Batang Pier’s amazing comeback from 25-points down to nip the Elasto Painters, 107-105.
Bolick finished with 22 points, six rebounds, nine assists, and more importantly hit the big three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to tie the count and send the game into overtime.
“Well, kalimutan na namin kahit masakit. We trust the management, the coaches, and everything. So move on,” said Bolick.
One thing the former San Beda standout will miss in practice however, is seeing Pringle at the gym.
“Gusto ko pa rin pagdating ko sa practice andun siya. Sasabihin sa iyo nun, ‘Let’s shoot, bro. Araw-araw yun. Walang ibang sasabihin yun.”
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