Though the San Miguel Beermen were able to pick up their first win in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Christian Standhardinger was visibly irked. And it wasn’t because of a rough play he endured against the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
What the 28-year-old Filipino-German wanted to get off his chest was how he was frustrated with some of the comments he has been seeing regarding Kiefer Ravena’s 18-month suspension by FIBA.
“You know I’m very happy that you ask me about this,” Standhardinger told the members of the press.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of bad comments regarding regarding Kiefer’s character, and that’s just complete… I don’t know if I can use the word, but bullshit.”
For Standhardinger, athletes like him would find it hard to understand the ingredients inside the supplements they are taking. That is why he believes that Ravena does not deserve the flak he is getting.
“Kiefer is a great guy, he’s a very responsible guy, he’s a great Gilas teammate, and if you guys check the FIBA application — nothing against the FIBA — there’s so many substances, it’s a freaking long list. So it’s very hard,” opined Standhardinger, who had 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with seven rebounds against Phoenix.
“It’s very easy to just have an error and make a mistake there. I think Kiefer apologized, and Kiefer will have … I mean, that’s a big punishment, being out for 18 months, and that’s his punishment,” Standhardinger said in disbelief.
“There should not be any bad comments or bad-mouthing, or shaming. That’s not your spot to do, you know? He got his punishment, he took responsibility, what more do you want to do?”
But given the way Ravena has been handling things, Standhardinger lauded his brother-in-arms in Gilas and his draft classmate, as he has been an absolute gentleman throughout this ordeal.
“But I think that it’s a good learning point for all of the Gilas players. I think Kiefer is handling the situation great, and with a lot of character and responsibility.”
