Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Not even a right knee injury could deter Christian Standhardinger from still wanting to represent the Philippines in the Fiba 3×3 World Cup.
Standhardinger had already missed San Miguel Beer’s much-anticipated duel against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday due to a swollen knee.
But the Fil-German doesn’t seem to be too worried about his health status with his concern on the 3-on-3 tournament which will be held here at Philippine Arena in Bulacan from June 8 to 12.
“I just cant worry about that. I go hard. I do what I’m supposed to do to get stronger and be fine,” he said after the Beermen beat the Gin Kings, 104-97, in overtime at Mall of Asia Arena.
“I’m hoping that I can really rest so I’m gonna be fine. We have a lot of games soon and also we have the 3×3 and that’s obviously very important,” he added.
SMB head coach Leo Austria said the wear and tear after seeing action in international tournaments for Gilas Pilipinas and in the Asean Basketball League and now the PBA took its toll on Standhardinger.
“Actually, first day of practice, we already knew he wasn’t in top shape because of the wear and tear from nine months of playing at Gilas, to ABL, then PBA,” said Austria.
“He doesn’t want to miss any practices. Everyday he’s there, but yesterday, we forced him to stop, to be absent in the practice for another check-up.”
Standhardinger is uncertain of when he’ll be able to play.
Though, he’s not keen on skipping the 3×3.
“I dont know yet. The knee’s better. We’ll see day-by-day,” saif the 6-foot-7 forward, who will be teaming up with TNT’s Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy and GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle in the 3×3.
“I’ll do everything in my power to play 3×3. That’s very important for me.”