Pringle on Gilas Men SEAG call-up: "Any time they need me to come... I'm there"

Stanley Pringle expressed his readiness for a Gilas Men return. Dennis Acosta
By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY—Stanley Pringle said on Tuesday night that he is open to accept the invitation of the SBP to join Gilas Pilipinas Men for the Southeast Asian Games.

Earlier in the day, SBP president Al Panlilio bared that Ginebra's spitfire combo guard is one of four players inserted to the initial 24-man pool for the national team in the biennial meet's basketball competition, which will run from Dec. 5-10 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

"When it comes to the national team, any time they need me to come, hopefully I'm healthy enough to practice, I'm there, SEA Games or anything," Pringle said after the Barangay played the Changwon Sakers in a tuneup game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Pringle will join fellow shoo-ins Chris Standhardinger, Thirdy Ravena, and Isaac Go in the national pool.

The final roster will be revealed just before the Sept. 30 deadline set by the SEA Games council for the submission of the national teams.

Pringle is not new to representing the Philippines in international competitions as he was part of the Gilas Men 3x3 team in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup last year at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue.

In the same year, he also joined Gilas Men, this time in the 5-on-5 play, in the Asian Games in Jakarta.

Unlike in the FIBA World Cup, Pringle was declared a local in the aforementioned events as they only require players of mixed descent to only show a passport of the country they are representing even if they got it after they turned 16 years old.

The same can be said about Pringle's eligibility for the SEA Games, which means he can play for Gilas Men as a local.

With Gilas Men the heavy favorites for the SEA Games gold, Pringle said that only the championship will be his goal.

"Definitely [I want the gold]," he vowed. "We're gonna be more complete."

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