ALL EYES ON C-STAND
ALL eyes will be on Christian Standhardinger as the Filipino-German big man dons a NorthPort jersey for the first time against— of all teams—his former team San Miguel Beer in a much-anticipated Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Standhardinger was shipped by the Beermen— who was picked No. 1 in the draft two years ago but found himself with San Miguel Beer via a controversial trade—to the Batang Pier in exchange for Moala Tautuaa in what could be one of the most stunning trades in years.
And just how he would stand up against the Beermen (5-1 won-lost) with the Batang Pier (2-4) would be known in the game that tips off at 7 p.m.
Winners of the past two conference titles and playing as a back-up to June Mar Fajardo, Standhardinger find himself playing a fresh role with NorthPort.
And he could only think of the missed chance of winning a rare grand slam as he leads a young Batang Pier squad with rookie Robert Bolick as main man.
“I wish I could’ve had a chance to win a grand slam. But it is what it is,” Standhardinger said. “And I think the players of San Miguel are great, I wish them the best.”
Used to only an average of 11 minutes in San Miguel uniform, Standhardinger’s numbers dropped to four points and 4.7 rebounds as he was sparingly used at an average of 11 minutes in his previous games with San Miguel Beer.
But Coach Pido Jarencio assured the big man of heavy minutes at NorthPort.
“For sure, he will play over 30 minutes a game,” Jarencio said.
Blackwater (2-4) tackles the out-of-groove Rain or Shine (1-5) at 4:30 p.m.