Nov 28, 2019

Standhardinger peaking in time for SEA Games

Last Wednesday, NorthPort big man Christian Standhardinger played for 61 minutes and 02 seconds as the Batang Pier outlasted the top-seeded NLEX Road Warriors in a triple overtime thriller, 126-123.

He was in competitive action for over an hour in total - the longest ever for a local player in the PBA.

Not bad for someone who used to wait for his time to check in over at old team San Miguel, trying to make the most out of his limited minutes on the floor.

"I don't think I played this long (in my entire career before) but I'm doing a good job in my diet and I'm in tip top shape so I'm happy," said Standhardinger who banged in 33 points, 23 rebounds and seven assists in his marathon outing for the now semis-bound Batang Pier.

And it seems the Fil-German still has gas in his tank the morning after the extended job. He joined Gilas Pilipinas as it resumed its buildup for next week's Southeast Asian Games.

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"Like I told you guys when my knee wasn't good yet a few months ago, by the SEA Games I will be peaking. I'm peaking so I don't think nobody will doubt that I'm peaking right now for the SEA Games.

"And that's very important for me because I really want to put my best basketball-wise for the country and Gilas," he said.

With NorthPort in the semis, Standhardinger stays on the hunt for a personal grand slam after winning the Philippine and Commissioner's Cup trophies with San Miguel.

'No I'm not thinking about it," he said, stressing his main focus at the resumption of the PBA in December is NorthPort's semifinal opponent, Barangay Ginebra.

"Ginebra's an amazing team. For me they're the team to beat this conference that's why we have to give our best (against them). And they have a winning culture already so we need to prepare good and play hard and that's all you can do against a good and well-coached team like Ginebra," he said.

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No matter what happens from here, Standhardinger said this showing is something a young NorthPort team can be proud of and build on from.

"The Top 4 is already a good accomplishment. I can't say that enough," he said.
"I'm so happy about making the Top 4 with this team. We're a young team, we just got together for 1-1/2 months so this is huge." (OL)