When Christian Standhardinger first arrived in the PBA, the 6-foot-8 Filipino-German opined that the league plays a ‘different sport’.
“I’m literally making big adjustments. I literally have to lift heavier weights to be stronger, because this feels like a different sport,” the rookie opined.
But time and time again, Standhardinger and a select PBA players would have to go back to playing ‘regular’ basketball as they are called up for national team duties.
That became a problem for Gilas Pilipinas during the fifth window.
During their last two home outings for the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, Gilas were called for a total of 49 fouls. Against Kazakhstan, the Filipinos gave up 34 free throws. Four days later, they allowed 33 freebies. All of which were crucial as Gilas lost both games by an average of just 6.0 points per game.
“Well, I also think what coach [Yeng Guiao] said, we had an issue regarding the free throws. And that’s what I’ve been saying, that the PBA is one of the most physical leagues I’ve ever played with. And internationally, you can do a lot less,” shared Standhardinger, who had 17 points and eight rebounds in their loss against Iran.
“So even in our tune-up games, it was very physical, and the line of the calling was very easy to let it play through. But in the international game, like in the FIBA window, which I remember from Germany and internationally when I played, it’s not like this,” added the Munich-born cager, who applied for the NBA Draft back in 2014.
“We need to do a better job to adjust to this, and I don’t know what’s the solution for it.”
What Standhardinger is suggesting is to fly in FIBA-level referees during their practices and tune-ups so that the Filipinos can adjust to the calls internationally.
“Maybe to fly some FIBA refs or something, who are not Filipinos? Nothing against the Filipino refs, they’re just call it very physical. The other refs from the other nations, they call it… certain calls are much, much quicker to be made, especially when you full pressure them on the court.”
