Beermen can wait for top pick Christian Standhardinger, says team exec
FOUR-PEAT seeker San Miguel Beer is not rushing top overall rookie pick Christian Standhardinger on his commitment to play for the squad in the coming PBA season.
The reigning three- time Philippine Cup champion can afford to wait for the 6- foot- 8 Standhardinger, whose team up with 6- foot-10 June Mar Fajardo is much anticipated by basketball fans to form up the Beermen’s twin tower combination.
“We’ll wait for him. In fact, we’re anticipating that he’ll miss the entire All- Filipino because of his commitment to play with the Hong Kong club in the ASEAN Basketball League,” said San Miguel Beer team manager Gee Abanilla.
Mr. Standhardinger decided to enter the PBA Rookie Draft on the condition that he’ll fulfill his commitments first with his Hong Kong basketball club.
Signed up by Gilas Pilipinas as its naturalized player for the FIBA Asia Cup just recently, Standhardinger caught the fancy of many Pinoy fans with his energetic performance in the international tournaments the national team participated in.
In the PBA, though, he will play as a local player, boosting the chances of the Beermen, champions five times in the last two years.
“Our objective really is to win four straight Philippine Cup titles. We were denied of our goal of winning the grand slam last season, but we will continue to pursue excellence and the next step is to win a four-peat in the All-Filipino,” added Mr. Abanilla.
No other PBA team has won four straight All-Filipino championships and the Beermen are looking at the possible historic feat. They will parade with an intact core that include four-time MVP Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter. —