FILE–Ginebra Gin Kings’ Christian Standhardinger during a PBA game. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Christian Standhardinger has always had his eyes on a much bigger prize.
He may have missed out on the PBA Season 47 Most Valuable Player award, but Standhardinger’s priority has always been to get more championships for Ginebra.
And he said there’s no added motivation in coming close to being last season’s best player of the league.
“There’s no [added] motivation. There’s the same amount of hustle and motivation that I always bring to the court,” said Standhardinger after the Gin Kings’ 100-86 win over Converge in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Araneta Coliseum on Friday.
“You can’t go and try to go for individual trophies. The main challenge is to win as a team and that’s where all my focus is.”
It was evident from the opening buzzer against the FiberXers that Standhardinger wanted to give Ginebra a winning start to the season.
The 6-foot-8 bruiser finished with a double-double of 25 points—17 of which came in the first quarter alone—and 16 rebounds to go along with five assists.
His performance is proof enough that he has moved on from last year’s race and eager to start another battle;.
That was last year. I moved on and I can’t think about that anymore. It was well deserved by June Mar [Fajardo]. He played an outstanding season and I have a great relationship with June Mar, I’m so happy for him that he got it.”
“But now it’s next season. You got to move on. Something that coach Tim (Cone) always says, ‘you got to forget quick.’ So, we’re forgetting the last season and fully focusing on this season and try to win as many championships as possible.”
Standhardinger posted averages of 22.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in the season-ending PBA Governors’ Cup.