Standhardinger says relationship with Chot now at a higher level

TAIPEI – It may have been “no big deal” to Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, but that incident in the game against Iraq on Thursday night in the Jones Cup Invitational is something that Christian Standhardinger values a lot.

“I have much respect for coach,” Standhardinger said while seated beside Reyes when someone pointed out that he was able to move on after being sent back to the locker room by the firebrand Gilas coach with 4:55
left in that game.

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“It (incident) took our relationship to the next level,” the 6-foot-7 Filipino-German said. “I hope we will be successful throughout the years.”

That scene in the Iraq game was a cause for concern as far as Filipino fans here were concerned, as Reyes had his hardworking center troop back to the dugout by himself while the game was going on.

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Reyes didn’t approve of a cheap shot Standhardinger gave on an Iraqi player, an act that got him thrown out of the game for a second deliberate foul.

Standhardinger scored nine points, had two rebounds and two steals in a 91-80 loss to Lithuania on Friday.

“I don’t think it was a solid game,” he said after playing almost 21 minutes. “I can do much better.”