CHRISTIAN Standhardinger is putting in the same effort to his mother club as with the national team.
Standhardinger braved the Saturday traffic and shrugged off fatigue just to be able to play for San Miguel’s first game in the PBA Governors Cup.
The effort paved off as the rookie Fil-German came away with a career-best 36 points on 14-of-17 shooting to lead the Beermen to a big win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“You know San Miguel. I felt like they showed great commitment to the national team and I did not want them to have a disadvantage in the first game,” said the 27-year-old Stanhardinger.
“That is why it was important for me to play, and obviously, there’s a huge commitment on my side to the San Miguel organization.”
Standhardinger arrived in Manila with the national team in the afternoon from Jakarta, where the Philippines placed fifth in the basketball competitions of the 18th Asian Games.
The rookie hoped to reach the Big Dome in time for the huddle inside the locker room. He got stuck in traffic, though, arriving at the venue when the Beermen were already warming up.
“The traffic is ridiculous. It took me two hours,” he said. “I was sweating bullets, but I didn’t want to miss the game.
“But we made it on time. I missed the first quarter a little bit, but that’s OK.”
Standhardinger entered the game with three seconds left in the first quarter, but went on a rampage in the next 12 minutes when he scored 13 of his output to help San Miguel take control of the match.
“My teammates just did a great job of finding me and getting me open. I just finished it,” said the Fil-German.
Standhardinger added 11 rebounds and three steals in 27 minutes of play.
Coach Leo Austria commended his rookie for showing up and opted to play.
“We know from the start that he will be coming, but it’s up to him (kung maglalaro siya,” said the San Miguel coach.
“But I know he’s a warrior. At talagang passion niya ang maglaro ng maglaro.”
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