Beermen coach Leo Austria won’t prioritize the team’s run over his rookie’s health, but the scrappy big man wants to suit up as soon as possible, both for his club team and the national team in the world cup.
“I don’t care if we win or lose as long as we don’t compromise Christian’s health,” said Austria, as the Beermen prepare to play the Columbian Dyip at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“He’s a warrior and his doctors advised to rest him when needed. We’ll see if he can play [today],” Austria added.
The Beermen are on a roll after losing their first three outings. San Miguel Beer clipped Phoenix Fuel before knocking down Barangay Ginebra in overtime.
“That Ginebra win was a good morale-booster coming into this game, which I expect to be hard and exciting,” Austria said of the game which saw Standhardinger nailed to the bench throughout the 104-97 triumph on Sunday after 60 cc of fluid was extracted from his swollen right knee.
Standhardinger, however, wants to see action soon, especially since he hates the idea of skipping the 3×3 world cup, where he leads the Philippine team that also includes Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy of TNT KaTropa and Stanley Pringle of GlobalPort.
The Philippines, seeded 19th, was plugged in a tough group that also features No. 6 Brazil, No. 11 Mongolia and powerhouse squads Russia and Canada, whose players have been one of the best professional teams on the Fiba 3×3 World Tour for the last five years.
“I’ll do everything in my power to play 3×3,” Standhardinger said on Sunday. “That’s very important for me. I just can’t worry about (my injury). I do what I’m supposed to, get stronger, and be fine.”
The Philippines opens against Brazil on Saturday.
“We have a lot of games soon, and also we have the 3×3 and that’s obviously very important,” Standhardinger said.
Meanwhile, coming off a piercing defeat at the hands of Rain or Shine, Magnolia (3-2) aims to get back on its feet against a hard-luck Blackwater (0-7) side in Wednesday’s curtain raiser.
“This is a long tournament and we will not force him (Standhardinger) to play if he’s not 100 percent,” Austria said.
Only the top eight squads will progress to the quarterfinals after the 11-game elimination round.