DESPITE a swollen right knee, Christian Standhardinger made it clear representing the country in the coming FIBA 3x3 World Cup remains a priority for him.
“I will do everything on my part to play 3x3 as that’s very important for me,” stressed the San Miguel rookie on Sunday shortly after the reigning PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion rolled to a 104-97 overtime victory over Ginebra at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Standhardinger sat out the game against the Kings to rest the hurting knee, which coach Leo Austria said had been drained of fluid the other day for the swelling to subside.
“Nagkaroon ng inflammation around the knee, and there’s a fluid sa joint niya and we’re able to struck out, I think 65 cc of fluid. And doctor advised him to rest for two days,” said the San Miguel coach in explaining the consensus decision of his staff to sit out Standhardinger notwithstanding the significance of their game against the Kings.
Austria said the team will evaluate Standhardinger’s status by Monday whether he can already join practice after getting a rest the past two days.
“Alam natin na he’s a warrior,” said Austria, adding Stanhardinger was already showing signs of the injury the day after San Miguel’s victory over Phoenix.
But Standhardinger continued to make himself available for practice and was only told so by Austria to rest by Saturday.
“Because of the wear and tear na rin, dahil nine months siyang naglalaro sa Gilas, tapos sa ABL (ASEAN Basketball League), and now in the PBA,” said Austria.
There’s just no stopping the Fil-German big man from playing though.
“I’m gonna be fine. We have a lot of games soon (at San Miguel), and we also have the 3x3 which is very important for me,” said Standhardinger, who will team up with Globalport’s Stanley Pringle, and the TnT Katropa duo of Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario in the 3x3 World Cup from June 8 to June 12 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
“I just can’t get worried about that (injury),” he added. “I go hard and do what I supposed to do to get stronger, and I’ll be fine.”
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