Standhardinger seen ‘future of the PBA’

A FAN of a player who works hard on the defensive end and makes his teammates better, Marc Pingris’ fancy was quickly caught by a 6-foot-8 Fil- German center who played as reinforcement of Gilas Pilipinas at a time the team badly needs the services of naturalized player Andray Blatche.

Christian Standhardinger, who spent the past few years playing for the German League, had to come in and play as the naturalized player of the national squad due to technicality issues, but the hardworking big man immediately drew so much attention from Filipinos who are looking for a new breed of heroes.

Mr. Standhardinger showed a lot of promise that even Marc Pingris, a long- time Gilas Pilipinas member and many- time member of the PBA’s All-Defensive team was impressed by his all-around play.

Like him, Mr. Standhardinger is a guy who plays with a lot of energy and hustle.

“I see similarities of my game on him. He also plays with a more energy and hustles a lot,” Mr. Pingris told BusinessWorld. “He defends, he dives for the loose ball. These are some of the similarities I’m seeing from him.”

Mr. Standhardinger made himself available for the coming PBA Rookie Draft and basketball experts see him as a potential top overall rookie pick.

“It depends on which team will get him,” added Mr. Pingris. “But he will definitely go a long way. He’s a workhorse and big.”

Kia Picanto, which is about to take the no. 1 overall rookie pick, is interested to get him, although the squad did not discount the fact of a possibility of a trade to any team for marquee players. —