Ginebra gets Stephen Holt, Standhardinger to Terrafirma

Barangay Ginebra made a big move on the eve of the PBA Rookie Draft by acquiring Stephen Holt, Isaac Go and the third pick in Sunday’s proceedings from Terrafirma, the league announced Saturday.

But the Gin Kings had to give up two of their key players in recent seasons in Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle while also sending the 10th pick to the Dyip in order for the deal to be given a seal of approval by the league.

The deal allows Ginebra to get one of the top prospects in the draft slated at Glorietta in Makati CIty after No. 1 pick Converge and No. 2 overall Blackwater.

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That also coincides with coach Tim Cone now having a younger core that assures Ginebra of maintaining its status as one of the league’s top contenders.

Though at 32 years old, Holt is coming off an impressive rookie season with Terrafirma, which he helped reach the quarterfinals of the Philippine Cup, while Go’s ability as a floor spacer aside from being a presence in the paint should be beneficial under Cone’s system.

Ginebra is parting ways with Standhardinger, who was instrumental since being traded from NorthPort in 2021. Aside from winning two championships, Standhardinger was Finals Most Valuable Player of the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup and was a Mythical Five member in 2023.

READ: PBA: Stephen Holt holds big lead in Rookie of Year race

Pringle also leaves the Gin Kings, who won four titles since arriving in 2019 and was the Best Player of the Conference in the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble.

The trade also saw Terrafirma lose another key core from the unexpected quarterfinal run in the Philippine Cup after Javi Gomez de Liano opted to sign with South Korea’s Anyang as its Asian player.

Juami Tiongson is the only one left from that core, but will now get some support from Standhardinger and Pringle.