Standhardinger raring to help Gilas Pilipinas bounce back vs Iran

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Christian Standhardinger witnessed how the Philippines fell to Kazakhstan in disappointing fashion, 92-88, in the second round of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

It was a painful memory that was etched into his mind as he was unable to play for Gilas Pilipinas in that Group F game since the team decided that he would sit out the match in favor of point guard Stanley Pringle for the naturalized player slot.

The loss saw the Philippines drop to a third-place tie with Japan with identical 5-4 records, and Standhardinger is now determined to right whatever wrongs that happened against the Kazakhs in Gilas’ next game against Iran.

Standhardinger will be suiting up for the game against the Iranians as the team’s naturalized player and although he doesn’t mind putting up gaudy numbers, he feels the pressure of representing the Philippines proudly in a game the country badly needs to win.

“I don’t feel pressure to produce stats because if I don’t produce stats it’s okay, but I do feel pressure playing for the country,” said Standhardinger Friday at Mall of Asia Arena. “I do feel pressure giving it my all.”

The top three teams from Groups E and F and the better of the fourth placers will advance to the 2019 Fiba Basketball World Cup in China and the Philippines needs to lock up at least the third seed in Group F to avoid any complications in the future stages of the competition.

“I feel pressure to play my heart out and to play my best for my country. I don’t feel pressure to match with anybody,” said Standhardinger.

Standhardinger will form a dynamic frontcourt with San Miguel teammate and four-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo that will form two big men who can operate simultaneously in the paint and outside of it.

Gilas was subjected to the quicker Kazakh big men especially in the game’s final field goal that saw Rustam Yergali and Anton Bykov connect on a play that exploited the Filipinos’ slower pace.

Yergali was able to make a beeline to the hoop that forced Fajardo to help out leaving Bykov open in the lane for the dagger layup with 12.7 seconds left to play.

Standhardinger can play as a point-forward for Gilas and that is what he plans to do against Iran’s bigs on Monday.

“You guys know that my game is everything but perfect, you know I’m a little unconventional but I do think that with my speed on the court I hope I can help the team a little bit,” said Standhardinger.