Terrafirma Dyip star Christian Standhardinger during a PBA Governors’ Cup game. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
Christian Standhardinger and Terrafirma have options on the table after the latter said that the two-time Best Player of the Conference winner had expressed his intention to retire amid an impasse between the two sides.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said Terrafirma can retain his rights if management makes a formal offer before Standhardinger’s contract expires next month.
“It doesn’t matter if Christian responds or not as long as it is a formal offer,” Marcial said in Filipino. [But] if Terrafirma does not make an offer, he is an [unrestricted] free agent.”
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Standhardinger may have to take a harder route if he decides to return to the league in the future since the 35-year-old isn’t eligible yet to become an unrestricted free agent.
Marcial said players drafted 2014 and beyond need to play 21 conferences before they can pick any team he chooses.
Standhardinger has only played in 15 conferences, beginning with the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup with San Miguel Beer until this season’s Governors’ Cup for Terrafirma.
The 2018, 2019 and 2022-23 seasons for San Miguel, NorthPort and Barangay Ginebra had three conferences each, 2020 was shortened to just one conference—the Philippine Cup—due to COVID-19 restrictions while the 2021-22 campaign was limited to two conferences for the same reason.
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Last season, with Standhardinger still with Ginebra, also had two conferences due to the country’s hosting of the Fiba World Cup.
“So let’s say that he has come back from retirement, he has to play the remaining conferences he needs to become an unrestricted free agent,” Marcial said, adding that Standhardinger can’t just wait for the next six conferences without playing just to become an unrestricted free agent.
Standhardinger did not play in the Dyip’s rough loss Wednesday to the Converge FiberXers that opened their campaign in the midseason conference, with new coach Raymond Tiongco admitting his absence during the team’s buildup.
Terrafirma governor Bobby Rosales confirmed the following day that Standhardinger told them of his plans to retire instead of playing the remainder of his contract.