RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao admitted the independent PBA team didn't expect Stanley Pringle to land on its lap.
Guiao said the Elasto Painters were aware that Pringle had become an unrestricted free agent at the end of Terrafirma's campaign in the PBA Philippine Cup, but hardly entertained thoughts of a possible deal with the Fil-Am guard.
"Alam naman namin na dehado kami if it's a bidding war for the services of Pringle," said Guiao on Tuesday, "kasi true to our identity and principles as an independent team, we cannot offer him beyond the league maximum."
READ Pringle signs two-year Rain or Shine deal
But that all changed when Pringle's agent got in touch for a possible deal.
"Actually sila ang lumapit," Guiao confirmed.
The signing went smoothly from there. A copy of the Rain or Shine offer was sent to Pringle who was on vacation in the US two weeks ago. He flew in to sign the contract before it was forwarded to the PBA for approval on Tuesday.
With the deal sealed, Rain or Shine has added an experienced player to a youth-laden team that has reached the semifinals of the league's three conferences this season, but came up short against the TNT Tropang 5G each time.
Is Pringle the 'missing piece' for ROS, Guiao was asked.
"I wouldn't say the missing piece, but he's a major upgrade for our team," said Guiao of Pringle, a one-time Best Player of the Conference winner and four-time PBA champion during his time with Barangay Ginebra.
Pringle is 38, but Guiao has no such concerns saying the former European and ABL campaigner - like all Rain or Shine players - wouldn't be asked to play more than 20-25 minutes under the coach's deep rotation.
"I think Stanley can still be very effective playing 17 to 20 minutes [a game]," said Guiao. "And we all saw that he was still very productive with Terrafirma last season averaging more than 10 points a game."
The 6-foot-1 Pringle, who had stints with GlobalPort and Ginebra before he and Christian Standhardinger were sent to the Dyip for Stephen Holt, Isaac Go, and a draft pick swap, averaged 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in the last Philippine Cup.
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