CHRISTIAN Standhardinger came close to skipping Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals due to a case of extreme food poisoning.
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone disclosed the Fil-German big man spent Saturday in the hospital when he fell ill after eating something.
READ: Resurgent Pringle inspires Ginebra to Game 5 win
Owing to his condition, Standhardinger failed to practice with the Kings as he had to be administered with five bags of IV fluids both in the hospital and at home.
“We had someone sleep with him and administer him,” said Cone. “He was down and out and sick.”
But it’s the finals, and following a heartbreaking Game 4 loss that slipped out of the hands of the Kings even after the Dragons played sans import Andrew Nicholson, Standhardinger willed himself to play.
The former No. 1 draft pick was good enough to play 28 minutes and score five points and haul down six rebounds to help Ginebra pull off a 101-91 win and move on the cusp of winning the mid-season championship.
“He really had reason not to play today, but he found a reason [to play], it’s the finals. But if it was a regular game, he would have not play,” said Cone.
“But he showed up at the game. So he was ready to go.”
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