Moments after the NorthPort Batang Pier stunned the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome, Christian Standhardinger said something to his former coach Leo Austria.
The Filipino-German forward’s exact words are unknown, with Austria himself declining to grant interviews regarding the matter. Still, Standhardinger said it was a respectful message.
“Did he tell you what I said? Then, I’ll keep it privately. But it was really respectful,” said Standhardinger, whom San Miguel traded for Mo Tautuaa in a straight-up deal. “I have nothing but respect for the San Miguel team, especially for the players. They played awesome. They’re a great great team. I have nothing but respect for boss Robert (Non), I have nothing but respect for coach Leo, and I have nothing but respect for the coaching staff.
“That’s it. I keep that in private. That’s just something that I had to get off my heart, and I think it was something very respectful, and I did not mean it in a mean demeanor whatsoever.”
However, Standhardinger did admit straight-up that he wants to prove himself. And he did just that in the Batang Pier’s 127-119 stunner of the Grand Slam-seeking Beermen.
The 6-foot-8 bruiser had 18 points — including the dagger jumper with 1:01 left to play — seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals in over 45 minutes of playing time.
“I played in Europe, I played everywhere. When I played with San Miguel, I played… What is that? Sixteen minutes a game?
“I say that very respectfully, but I have to prove something to the coaching staff wherever I play. If it’s NorthPort, whatever I play, and I have to prove to them that I think they made a mistake,” he said.
“Maybe they did not make a mistake, and they played me the right way because we won two championships, and that’s okay. But me as a player, I can’t just sit down and be like, ‘Okay, the coaching didn’t think that I am good’, and that’s how it is now. No. I gotta be the player that I can be, and I play my heart out to prove to the coaching staff, to coach Leo that he could’ve played me more, and I could’ve helped more. But that’s how it is,” he continued.
However, the Munich-born Standhardinger reiterated that there’s nothing personal to it. All he did was just do his job.
“It’s nothing personal.
“I don’t want anybody of you guys to make it personal. It’s nothing. Professionally, coach Leo thought that I’m not as good as… That I’m not that good, that’s why he played me the minutes he played me. And I think that I’m good,” he said.
Now though, with his first game in the books, the 30-year-old shifts his focus to helping the Batang Pier improve.
“Now, I’m here in NorthPort and I’m trying to work my butt off to prove to them that I’m a good basketball player. That’s it. The comment I made was regarding that. I hope there are no ill feelings,” he shared.
“I have nothing but respect for the San Miguel management. My complete loyalties for Alfrancis Chua – and he has nothing to do with this – this was just me trying to prove to the coaching staff that I think I’m a good player.”
