Rain or Shine's Stanley Pringle. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – Four-time PBA champion Stanley Pringle may be starting a new chapter with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, but he says the goal to help his team win remains the same.
Pringle recently joined the Elasto Painters for practice and tune-up games after signing a two-year deal last July.
"My personal goal is always been the same I think. Any team you get on, your personal goal should be to do what you can do to help the team win. It's always about the team, it's a team game," he told reporters during PBA Media Day on Thursday.
"Imma do what I can to help the team win. Coach Yeng knows my strengths so he'll put me in a position to help the team win. So I'll trust that and just do what I do. Practice, work hard, that's it," Pringle added.
The 38-year-old acknowledged his role as a veteran in a youth-laden Rain or Shine squad. But he knows he's still got a lot of catching up to do to with the team.
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"So for me right now I'm focusing on team chemistry. Getting to know the guys, the positions they like to do. If any of them have questions for me or wanna talk to me about any certain part of the game or anything I can help them with, they'll come over and ask me something," he said.
"But I'm the new guy on the team, so I gotta catch up. I gotta get the team chemistry down, gotta get the plays down. I gotta focus on those things first," Pringle explained.
The veteran player who's used to winning, aims to help get Rain or Shine past the hump, after three consecutive appearances in the semifinals.
"I think that's the goal, every team you play on, you wanna get a championship. But that's really hard. So I always say step by step. It takes a while. You gotta practice together, work on team chemistry," he said.
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"Hopefully the pieces they put together will be the one, it will be next conference," Pringle added.
Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said Pringle is a big addition to the team in their hunt to reach the finals.
"Itong conference na ito, mas nakahanda kami. Ang laking bagay sa amin ni Stanley Pringle na parang gumagaling yung mga nasa paligid niya eh. I think that's what Stanley brings, he's able to make players around him better," he said.
"He can also mentor our younger guards. Yung mga bata naming gwardiya maraming matutunan sa kanya," Guiao added.
The Elasto Painters mentor believes Pringle will help them "close out" games, something that they lacked in the past conferences.
"We have a closer. I have a lot of games I feel we could have won. Doon sa end game, doon sa clutch situations, you need a Stanley Pringle to get you over. And the other guys can learn from that," Guiao said.
JOURNEY TO RAIN OR SHINE
Before heading to Rain or Shine, Pringle spent one season with the Terrafirma Dyip.
The 38-year-old said it was a no brainer in deciding to join the Elasto Painters.
"I don't think it was too much of a process. They were the first team that you know contacted me. So being that I have a history with the coaching staff, I don't think it was too much of thinking. I just you know, went with the flow?" he said.
Pringle said he liked how Rain or Shine has been a contender for the past conferences and he hopes to take them to the next level.
"Well, Rain or Shine, they're always in every game. They compete, they compete to win every game, they play hard D, they play fast tempo. I think you know, playing with coach Yeng was really the icing on the cake for me. I already have a relationship with them and the coaching staff. So it wasn't really much thinking," he explained.
Pringle said it’s been an easy transition so far with 'supportive teammates' in the Elasto Painters. He aims to get more in tune with the team in time for the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.