The Pride of Christian Standhardinger, a top 10 player in the PBA

(c) ABS-CBN Sports

Do you remember a guy named Christian Standhardinger? Yes, the center who runs like a forward, bang like a center and handle the ball like a guard.

Yes, he is currently playing for the most loaded team in the history of the PBA, San Miguel Beermen. Is he a starter?

No. The fit is pretty bad because the best player in the league, who happens to be a center too, is also in the team. Yes, Christian Standhardinger is the back-up to June Mar Fajardo.

And that is a shame. 

With the availability of imports, Christian was totally relegated to a rotation big this conference, instead of what he truly is, a starter.

Standhardinger played off-the-bench in their first five games and his playing time never reached 20 minutes. Currently, he is averaging 5.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 steal, 0.5 block and 43% FG per game. He is averaging 16.8 minutes per game.

That is a far cry from his 23.3 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 60% FG per game production in the 2018 Governors' Cup. 

To magnify how great that was, let us compare that to the numbers of June Mar Fajardo in 2017 Governors' Cup. The Kraken averaged 18.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.0 blocks and 59% FG per game. 

Am I saying that he is better than June Mar Fajardo?

Nope. Fajardo is more proven in the PBA. 

But, the difference between the two is not that huge. Unfortunately, they are playing in the same team and in today's game, it is hard to play two centers who cannot shoot three-pointers. Thus, one has to suffer. 

Fajardo and Standhardinger are both 29 years old. If Christian remains in the Beermen, he could turn out to be the greatest back-up center, ever and one of the biggest what-ifs in the history of the league!