Defending imports a big load – CStand

DEFENDING imports may be a tough job, but Barangay Ginebra’s hard-banging big man Christian Standhardinger admits his competitive juice rises each time he competes in the game he loves.

It is no wonder Standhardinger has always been locked in for each game and wouldn’t mind the physicality even if he will have to guard imports, who are stronger and taller than him.

Christian Standhardinger TMT FILE PHOTO 

“I would not say it’s (defending imports) a big load, but I love to compete,” Standhardinger shared during his recent guest appearance at PlayitRight TV.

The 34-year-old Filipino German’s highly competitive approach to the game has made him a four-time PBA champion, two-time Best Player of the Conference awardee, as well as earning his first Finals Most Valuable Player during last season’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which Ginebra won in an epic seven-game battle against foreign team Bay Area last season.

But the two-time PBA All-Defensive team member insists he couldn’t have done all these apart from the help of his Ginebra teammates.

“I compete with my butt off every game and I start getting a little bit better at defending import with the help from my teammates,” he stressed.

Interestingly, Standhardinger shadowed Ginebra’s current import Tony Bishop when the Puerto Rican served as Meralco’s reinforcement during the 2021 Governors’ Cup.

Bishop helped the Bolts reach the Finals, before eventually losing to the Gin Kings.

The 6-foot-8 slotman currently leads the Ginebra locals in scoring with 18.3 points, while grabbing 12.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists as the Gin Kings are off to a solid start in their title-retention bid with their 3-1 record.

Ginebra guns for its third straight win and fourth win in five starts when the league’s most popular squad faces Terrafirma on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.