Filipino-German big man Christian Standhardinger was finally able to showcase what he can bring to the Gilas Pilipinas program when the Nationals took on the NLEX Road Warriors, Wednesday night.
Though struggling to keep up with the conditioned big men of NLEX to start the game, the 6-foot-8 Munich-born cager was able to keep pace with his team and the Road Warriors as the game went on.
“It’s a whole different game than in Europe,” shared the 2016 Most Valuable Player in German-league ProA. “It’s so much faster, quicker, so many attacks, and that’s why I have to get adjusted to the speed of the game and also to my teammates.”
And when things got heated between the young cadets squad and the veteran-laden Road Warriors, Standhardinger showed what he was all about.
After a Raul Soyud lay up gave NLEX a 112-108 lead with 17 second left, Standhardinger ran like a gazelle for the hoop plus a free throw to cut the lead to just a solitary shot. Matthew Wright was then able to steal an inbound pass by Larry Fonacier. The Phoenix rookie swung the ball to Jiovani Jalalon, who passed the ball to Kiefer Ravena. Ravena then found Standhardinger underneath for the game-winning basket.
Though giddy that he was able to save the day for the young squad, Standhardinger, who finished the game with 12 markers, deflected all the credit to his teammates as even if he had just arrived last June 26, they have already embraced him.
“I had two great passes, one on the side and all I had to do was lay it up. The pass under the basket was a great pass, I had to make that,” said Standhardinger, who celebrated his 28th birthday last July 4.
“I’m very happy that my teammates put me in such great situations. I’m very happy to be here.”
Though admitting that he is still far from his game shape, Standhardinger vows to work extra hard to pay the trust Coach Chot Reyes is giving him.
“I’m just grateful that coach is trusting me and that he took me with the team,” he said.
“I’m trying to do my best to really help the team win.”
