Standhardinger nails dagger vs former team as NorthPort stuns San Miguel

Now Northport big man Christian Stanhardinger faces his former team. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Christian Standhardinger provided more than just the drama, knocking down the dagger shot in a killer endgame run by NorthPort, which fashioned out a 127-119 stunner over fancied San Miguel Beer on Wednesday night in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Cuneta Astrodome.

Standhardinger’s basket highlighted the brief but telling run that the Batang Pier used to notch their third victory in seven games. But he wasn’t the only key to the win as new import Michael Qualls, Jervy Cruz, Kevin Ferrer and Nico Elorde all contributed to hand San Miguel just its second loss in seven outings.

“At least, for now, we’re inside the magic circle of eight teams that will make the playoffs,” said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio in Filipino. “Had we lost, we would have been stuck at the bottom with the teams at 2-5.”

NorthPort needed every bit of contribution from its roster to counter the 57-point night of San Miguel’s Dez Wells. Wells, however, ended up gasping in the stretch, missing crucial shots that allowed the Batang Pier to assemble that game-clinching 10-2 run.

“This was the team that kicked us out of last conference when we fell short,” said Jarencio. “So this one’s for the management and fans.”