Christian Standhardinger. Photo from Fiba.com
Mike Heung, vice director of the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions, shrugged off any concerns with the status of Christian Standhardinger on the team ahead of the new ABL season.
A conflict looms following the application of Standhardinger for the 2017 PBA Draft but Heung is certain that the Fil-German big man will be with the Long Lions throughout the season.
“He signed a contract with our team and the contract he signed is for him to complete the ABL season, this season,” said Heung. “So I think a contract is a contract and he will play for us. He will play this season for us.”
The 6-foot-7 Standhardinger is the consensus top pick in the draft set on Oct. 29 despite him likely to miss the 2018 Philippine Cup due to his commitments with Hong Kong.
Heung said the addition of Standhardinger, who proved his worth in the international scene for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2017 Jones Cup, Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon and Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, gives the Long Lions a defensive anchor.
“He’s a very good player and he can help our team a lot especially defensively.”
Interestingly, the 28-year-old Standhardinger makes his ABL debut against Alab Pilipinas on Nov. 19 at Mall of Asia Arena.