Christian Standhardinger: SMB’s top rookie choice

Christian Standhardinger: SMB’s top rookie choice

Christian Standhardinger: SMB’s top rookie choice
PBA

Christian Standhardinger: SMB’s top rookie choice

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THE San Miguel Beermen get to parade their version of the twin towers while the NLEX Road Warriors were able to pluck arguably the best homegrown talent there is in a while. This, after the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) held its annual rookie draft yesterday.

Held at the Robinsons Place Manila, San Miguel and NLEX, which selected first and second, respectively, as expected chose Christian Standhardinger and Kiefer Ravena in the first two picks.

Secured the number one pick after completing a deal with Kia Picanto in the lead-up to the draft, San Miguel did not deviate from what many pundits thought to be the direction it would take, picking up Gilas Pilipinas cadet Standhardinger.

Mr. Standhardinger, while expected to miss the early part of next season as he fulfills his contract playing in the ASEAN Basketball League, is set to form a solid twin tower with reigning league most valuable player June Mar Fajardo.

Joining an already-loaded team, Mr. Standhardinger said he hopes he gets to contribute in his own “little way” to the Beermen.

“I’m just grateful to be able to play in the PBA, to be able to play with San Miguel, and hopefully we get to win some championships together. I can’t wait to start,” said the Filipino-German, who impressed during his stints with the national team.

“I’m just going to bring my best. They are already good but I’m just going to do my best, get those rebounds that way you saw me during Gilas. And if I do that I believe I can make the team a little better,” he added.

SECOND-GENERATION PLAYER

For NLEX, in selecting Mr. Ravena it gets a second-generation PBA player who many consider to be prime for the PBA as early as a year ago.

Ruled the draft combine this year, Mr. Ravena, son of former rookie of the year Bong, only solidified his standing as the best homegrown talent in the batch.

He went on to say that he hopes to help NLEX continue to improve while also bettering himself as a player in the PBA.

“It’s really overwhelming to now be in the PBA. Ever since I was a kid this was a dream of mine and in a way I’m fulfilling my dad’s dream for me to be a second-generation PBA player,” said Mr. Ravena, a bemedalled player in the collegiate ranks with Ateneo de Manila University as well as playing for the national team.

“I’m just going to give my best to contribute to NLEX. They had a good showing in the last conference. I’m just going to absorb everything from the coaching staff, especially from coach Yeng [Guiao], and my teammates,” he added.

Meanwhile, selected third in the draft was former Far Eastern University star Reymar Jose, who is headed to the Blackwater Elite.

Completing the top five were Jason Perkins, who went to Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters, and Jeron Teng to the Alaska Aces.

The rest of the first round saw Robert Herndon, Jr. (GlobalPort Batang Pier) at sixth, Rey Nambatac (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters) at seventh, Sidney Onwubere (Phoenix) at eight, Lervin Flores (Star Hotshots) at ninth, Mark Tallo (10th) and Jon Gabriel (11th) for the TNT KaTropa, and Jett Manuel (Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings) at 12th. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo