CHRISTIAN Standhardinger’s subtle impact for Barangay Ginebra is not lost on those who know their basketball.
That’s why the PBA Press Corps named him the Finals MVP of the PBA Commissioners’ Cup after helping the Gin Kings finish off Bay Area, capped by a 114-99 Game Seven win.
But even retired players notice the importance of the 33-year-old big man to a star-studded Ginebra team.
Asked on SPIN Zoom In who his favorite player in the today’s PBA is, Billy Mamaril didn’t think twice before mentioning Standhardinger, who he believes still embodies the vintage role-playing big man.
Billy Mamaril on his favorite PBA player today
“He’s not the flashiest,” Mamaril said of his former San Miguel teammate. “He’s kinda reminding me about my younger self: rugged, workhorse, and he’s not afraid to get dirty.”
Before he switched careers to become a registered nurse, Mamaril built his name as a PBA enforcer, nurturing a 17-year pro career that saw him become a 2009 All-Defensive Team member, a 2005 All-Star, and a five-time champion.
Standhardinger has shown he can deliver on both ends.
The Filipino-German stalwart had his best offensive year for NorthPort in the 2020 PBA bubble, averaging 19.9 points on 49.4-percent shooting, 12 boards, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in 37.5 minutes over 10 games.
In the recently concluded finals, he was still the Gin Kings’ third-leading scorer behind Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson with 10.9 points on top of 2.7 assists in seven games.
But the 6-foot-8 big man conserved most of his energy anchoring Ginebra’s defense against import Andrew Nicholson, Liu Chuanxing, and Duncan Reid as he normed seven rebounds and 1.1 steals.
And Mamaril appreciates players embracing the unglamorous side of the game.
Mamaril, though, knew a thing or two about offense early on in his career as he averaged nine points alongside six boards, 1.8 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 0.9 steal in 30.3 minutes in his second year in the PBA in 2004, his lone season with Shell.
But like Standhardinger, the 6-foot-6 Mamaril is most proud of his work on the defensive end.
“I just want my fans to remember me for the hardwork that I put in that no matter what the obstacle was, I would tackle it regardless of the outcome,” the retired cager said. “I would give it 100 percent, whether it’s guarding an import, diving for loose balls, and the rebound.”
“I just want them to remember my basketball career as a successful basketball career na one of the tough, rugged, durable players, especially to wear the Ginebra jersey,” he ended.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph