STANLEY Pringle is set to make his eagerly-awaited PBA Commissioner's Cup debut for NorthPort.
Tony Mitchell is expected to do the same for NLEX when the Road Warriors collide with the leadership-seeking Batang Pier in a Petron Saturday Special at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NorthPort is gunning for a fitting follow-up to its 103-81 beatdown of Alaska last Wednesday and would at least share the lead should Blackwater prevail over Barangay Ginebra Friday.
What makes the Batang Pier's win more impressive is the fact it was fashioned minus Pringle, who underwent minor ankle surgery, as well as the injured Garvo Lanete (sprain) and Bradwyn Guinto (knee).
Following that Alaska game, NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio bared that Pringle was actually fit enough to see action against the Aces but opted to play it safe.
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"Nag-ingat lang. Puwede na siya ngayon. Mas gusto lang niya 'yung wala na talaga siyang nararamdaman," related Jarencio.
"May mga tinanggal na bone spurs sa kanya," Jarencio went on, before adding in jest: "Pinalitan ng bakal para maging Bionic Man siya."
Turning more serious, Jarencio said he already likes what he sees in Pringle at practice even if the star guard is not even at full strength yet.
"Mas explosive pa nga lalo eh. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, parang Bionic Man eh. Sa practice, napakabilis. Nakakatuwa," said Jarencio.
That should come as unwelcome news to NLEX, which itself is coming off an 87-102 drubbing from TNT also last Wednesday.
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In that game, Curtis Washington had 18 points and 16 rebounds, but could not help the Road Warriors avoid sputtering plays in the two middle quarters that aided the KaTropa taking full control of the match.
That forced NLEX management, according to a team insider, to tap Mitchell.
Mitchell was actually the Road Warriors' original choice as import, but failed to report in time and prompted the team to tap the readily-available Washington.
According to the same source, Mitchell's papers have already been submitted to the PBA and he has practiced with with NLEX since Friday.
This will be Mitchell's third tour of duty here, having come in as a replacement import for TNT in th 2013 edition of the same mid-season tourney and for Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok, then known as Star, in 2017.
With the Hotshots, Mitchell averaged 21.25 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.75 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.9 blocks in the eight games he played then before getting injured and being replaced by Ricrado Ratliffe.
NLEX could only hope Mitchell's game would be enough to prop the team's bid to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole.
While Pringle and Lanete are set to suit up for NorthPort, the Road Warriors would still be missing the services of JR Quinahan, who recently underwent knee surgery and would be out for another month.
NorthPort import Prince Ibeh should also dominate inside the paint against the 6-foot-6 Mitchell and even Poy Erram, Raul Soyud and the other NLEX frontliners, adding to the Batang Pier's threats that include Sean Anthony, Mo Tautuaa and Robert Bolick.
The burly, long-limbed Ibeh debuted with 19 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots and Jarencio said that although he is already satisfied he still expects the former NBA G-League campaigner to get better.
"Siguro mag-i-improve pa iyan," stated Jarencio.
"At least, nakita na natin kung ano p'wede niyang ibigay sa team. So iyun 'yung importante. Rebounding, No. 1. No. 2 iyung presence inside, intimidation against the opponent. No. 3, iyun nga, nakaka-finish siya kahit papaano, kapag nabigyan siya sa ilalim." (NC)
