Christian Standhardinger made it seem that he was at a hundred percent when Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 took on Brazil to open its campaign in the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
The 6-foot-8 bruiser banged bodies with the barrel-chested Brazilians and fought for positions every time he was on the floor.
But the Filipino-German was in constant pain all throughout. According to him, his left knee – which made him miss the last two games of the San Miguel Beermen – was bothering him every time he took a step.
“It hurts a lot but it didn’t claw up on me so we’re good,” shared Standhardinger, who finished the game with three points.
Still, the night is not over for Standhardinger and the rest of Gilas 3×3. Just three hours after their 15-7 win over Brazil, they will take on the highly-touted Mongolia in the night-capper.
Even if the 3×3 game is more physical compared to its 5-on-5 counterpart, Standhardinger shared that the PBA has prepared them for this grinding tournament.
“I think a lot of people have to get used to the physicality of 3×3, but its not even close as the physicality in the PBA. I had much respect on that,” he opined.
“But I think Calvin Abueva and the other guys in the PBA prepared us greatly for this game.”
