Christian Standhardinger earns PBA Player of the Week honors
With Japeth Aguilar unable to play for Brgy. Ginebra in the past two games due to a calf injury, frontcourt partner Christian Standhardinger took the cudgels for his fallen teammate and was instrumental as the Gin Kings move one win away from a return trip to the Finals of the Governors’ Cup.
The 32-year old Fil-German submitted 3-game averages of 14.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in the semifinal round to earn the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period March 23-27.
Standhardinger started the series with a 10-point, 12-rebound performance, complementing import Justin Brownlee, LA Tenorio, and Scottie Thompson in the crowd darlings’ 95-86 win.
The 6-foot-9 former SMB and NorthPort big man then bullied his way to a 17-point, 11-rebound stats line on 8-of-14 shooting in Game 2 as Brgy. Ginebra zoomed to a 2-0 lead with a 104-94 victory.
In Game 3, Standhardinger delivered anew with a huge double-double of 16 points and 16 rebounds, although the Gin Kings fell short of completing a sweep and quick passage to the championship round with a heartbreaking 86-85 loss to the Road Warriors.
“Just trying to fulfill whatever role is best for the team to give us the biggest chance to win,” said Standhardinger, who’s also the primary defender against NLEX import Cameron Clark.
“I hope we can make it,” he added.
Standhardinger got the nod of sportswriters covering the league over teammates Tenorio and Thompson as well as Meralco’s Chris Newsome and Chris Banchero for the weekly honor.