With just 1:09 left to play in Gilas Pilipinas’ tune-up match versus the Alaska Aces on a Saturday afternoon, forwards Calvin Abueva and Christian Standhardinger were caught in a heated exchange of verbal jabs.
The scene lasted for a few seconds, with both men psyching out one another. Still, cooler heads prevailed, and both the Fil-German and Gilas managed to come out victorious in the end, 120-117, edging out Abueva and the Aces.
As the dust has settled, and with everything in control, that tussle was nothing personal for both Standhardinger and Abueva.
“It’s good. Tigas, siyempre papakilala lang as Abueva,” said the Kapampangan, who finished with 12 markers in the loss, with a chuckle.
“It was nothing,” said the Munich, Germany-born cager on the other hand. “It was a close game, so emotions were running high. I like his intensity and I will shoot back with my intensity, and in the end, we won, so that’s good.”
The 6-foot-8 Standhardinger even described how their word war went.
“He asked my how my day is going and I asked him how his day is going,” quipped the Hawaii Rainbow Warrior.
“Then he asked how’s my family, and I said my mother is fine. He told me his grandma is feeling great, so that was what we talked about.”
For Abueva, though, that commotion he sparked was actually his way to test out the wares of the 28-year-old stretch big man.
“Tinest lang. Walang personalan, kasi magiging teammate naman siguro kami after nito,” said the 29-year-old.
“Sa akin, inuunahan ko na siya para makapag-handa na siya sa kung ano pang tune-up, or [‘pag] ma-draft siya dito sa country natin.”
And it was a test that Standhardinger passed, said the Gilas veteran.
“Okay naman, pero may konting pikon lang siya. ‘Di pa rin naman nawawala yung game niya,” said Abueva of Standhardinger, who had remarkable numbers of 15 points and 15 boards against him and Alaska.
“Mabuti na lang nung last na tinamaan siya sa mukha, nilabas na agad siya ni coach. ‘Di na napaaga yung bawi ko siguro pero sa huli na, siyempre sa crucial part na kailangan mag-focus.”
Abueva and Standhardinger are both included in the 24-man Gilas pool for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup. Surely, both cagers will play alongside each other, and Standhardinger is already looking forward to it.
“Yeah, I like it. Why not? Then we’ll have two heated heads on the court,” said Standhardinger with a grin.
