MANILA, Philippines—It took some time for Christian Standhardinger to make a huge impact for San Miguel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The top overall pick of the 2017 PBA Draft was pedestrian for most of the conference, averaging just 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds prior to the Beermen’s opening game of the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against Rain or Shine.
Seemingly hidden within San Miguel’s schemes, Standhardinger went largely unnoticed since the Elasto Painters focused more on five-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
Standhardinger, though, made Rain or Shine pay when he had his best game of the conference with 20 points, on 8-of-10 shooting, and eight rebounds.
“You know it’s not about the points, I was just trying to do my job and I’m happy I was able to be efficient for my team today,” said Standhardinger with a humble tone Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Standhardinger was also vital in San Miguel’s late-game surge when he scored nine of his total points in the payoff period.
Fajardo, meanwhile, went for nine points and nine rebounds the whole game but it didn’t matter since Standhardinger took control of the paint for San Miguel.
Standhardinger said that the Game 1 win was crucial for them especially with how Rain or Shine controlled the match from the get-go, even starting off with a 20-7 lead early in the first quarter.
The Elasto Painters still held fort in the third with a 66-59 lead off of Carl Montgomery’s dunk with 7:29 to play in the period.
San Miguel, however, fought back at the end of the third and took 85-83 lead en route to shutting down Rain or Shine in fourth.
“This is very big you know we always play catch up basketball but we kept fighting and I’m happy,” said Standhardinger. “At the end of the day, we were victorious.”