CStand keeps eyes on the prize

BARANGAY Ginebra’s man-mountain Christian Standhardinger understands the high expectations of playing for the league’s most popular squad.

It is no wonder that after the Gin Kings absorbed back-to-back defeats last week, the 6-foot-8 Filipino German made an effort to get back strong on Friday.

Against Blackwater, Standhardinger drilled in 33 points on 12-of-17 field goal shooting, while adding six rebounds and five assists as Ginebra rolled to a 105-86 triumph.

The win pumped the team’s playoff hopes back as Ginebra improved to 4-3.

“I feel like every conference is the same. As [part of] Ginebra, you want to play for the championship, and a championship is expected. If you don’t win, you miss the goal,” Standhardinger said.

“Every conference, you just get going and try to go and keep winning as much as possible.”

The burly Ginebra big man also appreciated the fact that his game got easier with the return of top playmaker Scottie Thompson since recovering from a back injury.

With Thompson orchestrating the plays, Standhardinger said he was able to get his baskets on key spots.

“It helped that Scottie is back [because it was a] good two-man game, and helped me [get] going. We did a good job bouncing back,” he said.

“We just had a great opportunity and [got] set up by my teammates. I needed to be in good spots.”

Standhardinger played a key role in the team’s championship conquest of last season’s Commissioner’s Cup, en route to being named the Finals Most Valuable Player.

The Gin Kings though face another uphill battle come Sunday when they collide with the NorthPort Batang Pier.