Christian Standhardinger with the Ginebra Gin Kings. He is traded to Terrafirma in a transaction announced by the PBA on Saturday. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Christian Standhardinger admitted that he once expressed his desire to be traded by Barangay Ginebra before having a change of heart.
“Just to clarify, a year ago, I was open to being traded due to some dissatisfaction. However, after playing a whole season, I was keen on staying with Ginebra,” Standhardinger said Saturday after being traded to Terrafirma in a multi-player deal.
Standhardinger made his own clarification after Ginebra traded the star big man along with Stanley Pringle in exchange for Stephen Holt and Isaac Go.
READ: PBA: Ginebra needed ‘to get younger’ says Cone after trading away vets
The two teams also swapped picks for upcoming PBA Rookie Draft with Ginebra getting the third pick and Terrafirma receiving the 10th overall selection.
Coach Tim Cone earlier said Standhardinger preferred “to play in a different system and under a different coach,” which the latter acknowledged.
— Christian Standhardinger (@cstandhardinger) July 13, 2024
“Recently, during my exit meeting, Coach Tim asked me if I was good to continue to play for him and the team. I said yes, and he expressed his happiness to have me on board,” added Standhardinger.
There was a game in April that saw Standhardinger being benched by Cone in the fourth quarter of Ginebra’s loss to, incidentally, Terrafirma in the Philippine Cup eliminations at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
READ: PBA: Ginebra acquires Stephen Holt, Terrafirma gets Standhardinger
Whether that incident contributed to the deal was not discussed in detail by either Standhardinger or Cone.
Standhardinger did, however, get informed in advance of the trade, which the multi-time Mythical First Team selection and one-time Finals Most Valuable Player “respected.”
“Coach Tim called me and communicated his decision to trade me for younger players,” he said. “I want to emphasize that I had nothing to do with this decision as I was committed to finishing my contract with Ginebra.
Earlier, Standhardinger thanked Ginebra, Cone and the fans for his three-year stint that allowed him to win two championships and be in a position to be in consistent running for major individual awards such as the Best Player of the Conference and the season MVP.
“I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible support and love you’ve shown me throughout my time with Barangay Ginebra,” he said. “Being part of this team has been a truly unforgettable journey, and I’m grateful for every cheer, every chant, and every moment of encouragement.”