Just like the first two games of the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between TNT KaTropa and San Miguel Beermen, Friday night’s Game Three was just as emotionally charged.
With six seconds left in the third quarter, when Terrence Jones and Christian Standhardinger entangled under the rim while battling for the rebound. Based on replays, Standhardinger appeared to have clipped the 6-foot-9 forward’s right arm. He also elbowed Jones in the ribs as he broke free.
That sparked a commotion on the court, which saw Yousef Taha bump Standhardinger. June Mar Fajardo then pushed Taha away to prevent any further untoward incidents.
Standhardinger incurred a flagrant foul penalty one, while Taha got a technical foul for second motion.
But that incident did not shake TNT. The KaTropa remained composed to register the 115-105 victory, which also gave them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven affair.
Press reached out to Standhardinger for comment regarding the incident, but he avoided questions.
Jones also received questions regarding the incident and the physical play on him in general. The former NBA cager instead lauded his teammates for a job well done in the victory.
This isn’t the first time in this series that the Fil-German forward and the American cager had a run-in.
Back in Game One last Sunday, Standhardinger and Jones were in the middle of a commotion after the former hit Chris Ross in the face as he tried to move past the latter.
Then in Game Two, both Jones and Standhardinger got called for a double technical. That would be half the reason behind an early exit for Jones, as he incurred another T late into second overtime.
