Christian Standhardinger suffered his first heartbreak in the PBA last season, when his San Miguel Beermen lost their throne as kings of the Commissioner’s Cup after they bowed to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in six games.
Still, Standhardinger has moved on. And now, he has a chance to strike his first gold in the league – and help SMB win their unprecedented fifth straight All-Filipino championship – in the 2019 Philippine Cup Finals.
“I’m very excited,” said the Fil-German forward during the pre-Finals presser, Monday at Sambokojin Eastwood.
Standhardinger has become one key piece for this loaded San Miguel squad. He was steady in the semifinals versus the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters, and his best outing in that series came in Game Three as he had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Now that they are in the Finals again, some eyes will be on the 29-year-old to see how he’ll contribute, especially against a Magnolia Hotshots side that’s eager to get back at them for the beating they took in last season’s all-Filipino Finals.
The 6-foot-8 Standhardinger might just be the difference this time around, as he wasn’t with San Miguel in last year’s Philippine Cup. Still, he was quick to warn that the opposition will be a dangerous team to lock horns with.
Standhardinger said that they are facing a Magnolia side coming off a championship run in the 2018 Governors’ Cup, and that alone should send a message to the whole Beermen to bring their best right from the get-go.
“It’s gonna be hard against Magnolia. They just won the title last conference and we really have to bring our A-game.”
