Two Centers that should take advantage of Fajardo's injury

(c) PBA Media Bureau

An injury is one of the most underrated season-changers in professional team-sports league. June Mar Fajardo will miss six to eight weeks of basketball due to a shin injury.

It means he is due to miss the entire elimination round of the Governors' Cup for the San Miguel Beermen. That is a bad news for the Beermen but it also opens the door for Christian Standhardinger to show what he got.

San Miguel will not be the only squad that will feel his absence. He is also the main guy of our national basketball team who is set to battle on September 13 against Iran and September 17 against Qatar.

The only positive that we can get from this injury is the opening of opportunities to two bigmen.

CHRISTIAN STANDHARDINGER
In five elimination games in the Commissioner's Cup, he averaged 24.3 minutes, 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 49% FG per game. Impressive right? Now that Fajardo is out and with a smaller import, Stan is bound to play at least 32 minutes per game and I am pretty sure he will get majority of Fajardo's touches inside.

The time has come for Christian to fulfill the hype. He was suppose to be a rival of Fajardo. The Kraken averaged 19.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game in the Commissioner's Cup. Can Standhardinger come close to that?

If he will be able to do that, another big question will arise for San Miguel. If they have two monster bigs, it means they are not maximizing Arwind Santos? What will they do to him then?

JP ERRAM
If you watched the Gilas match against China from the start to finish, I think you still remember the first one to score for Gilas. Yes, it was Erram who connected on a three-pointer. Actually, Erram made two field-goals and both are long bombs.

With the absence of Fajardo, I think JP is now safe to be a part of the Gilas squad that will battle Iran and Qatar in September.

Playing longer under coach Yeng who is very good at developing and motivating players could go a long way in his development.

Erram can turn out to be a Unicorn that the modern basketball is salivating for. Someone who is tall, who can shoot and protect the rim.