Christian Standhardinger was knocking down jumpers and unleashing his hard-nosed brand of basketball in Manila, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. However, the Filipino-German did not have “Philippines” emblazed on his chest.
The Munich, Germany-born slotman was suiting up for Hong Kong Eastern Basketball Team, setting his allegiance to his mother’s homeland aside, as he is all business for the defending ASEAN Basketball League champions.
And the jeers from the crowd stemmed from the way he performed, as he delivered an excellent debut for Hong Kong by striking end-game daggers to lift his team, to a 92-89 opening victory past home team Tanduay Alab Pilipinas.
For Standhardinger, though, the boos were the least of his concern.
“I didn’t hear the booing,” said Standhardinger, who tallied 26 points and 14 rebound in his debut. “I think I just love the Filipino fans so if they cheer for me or boo me, it’s okay. It’s nothing personal.
“But I hope someday I can hear the cheers again. But today, it’s all good. It’s all love. I was so excited. The gym is full. What a great atmosphere. This is what I love about the Philippines… That’s why I love coming back here,” the 6-foot-7 big man added.
The match itself was a highly physical affair. Standhardinger himself had his fair share, as he was caught in numerous face-offs with Tanduay Alab’s World Import Ivan Johnson.
For him, it’s all part of the game.
“He’s a beast, he’s physical,” said Standhardinger of Johnson. “But there’s nothing personal. Me, I play hard as possible and right on the line, on what is allowed and not allowed. That’s how you play against each other.
“At the end of the day, you shake hands and no extra stuff. It was fun competing against him and I’m looking forward to the next game.”
Nevertheless, the 28-year-old was relieved that Hong Kong was able to survive the challenge imposed by the Ray Parks, Jr.-led Filipino cagers, where they mounted fightbacks especially in the end-game.
“What a great victory. My God! It was so close! They really got everything in us. And Ray, that and-one in the end? Killer!,” he said of Parks’ three-point play that pushed Alab within one, 89-90, in the final 10 seconds of the game, “But we just stuck together. We got frustrated but we kept going. We kept working hard and in the end, we came with a victory.
“As good as they are, they could have come up with a victory but I was just happy it was us.”
