By Jonas Terrado
Christian Standhardinger could end up winning his first Best Player of the Conference award despite finishing third in the Statistical Points race at the end of the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations.
Christian Standhardinger, right, guards June Mar Fajardo in the post during his debut with NorthPort. Standhardinger and Fajardo lead the Best Player of the Conference race in the PBA Governors’ Cup. (PBA Images)
The all-around big man of the NorthPort Batang Pier compiled 35.1 Statistical Points, trailing only San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo (38.8) and Columbian rookie CJ Perez (37.2).
Columbian’s CJ Perez, right, tries to strip the ball from San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
Fajardo and Perez remained 1-2 in the race but are likely to be bypassed after SMB was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Columbian failed to make the playoffs.
NLEX guard Kiefer Ravena placed fourth at 34.5 SPs but his team missed out on a semis berth after Standhardinger and the No. 8 seed Batang Pier beat the top-ranked Road Warriors twice in a stunning quarterfinal upset.
The league has yet to witness a BPC winner that failed to reach at least the semifinals, thus making things tough for Fajardo, Perez and Ravena.
TNT KaTropa’s Jayson Castro, the other semifinalist who made the top five, registered 31.6 SPs.
No player from finalists Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Meralco made it to the top five with the Kings’ Stanley Pringle placing sixth (30.8) and teammate Japeth Aguilar in eighth (29.9) and Chris Newsome of the Bolts at ninth spot (29.8).
Castro was the last non-finalist to win the BPC, taking home the award in the 2016 Governors’ Cup.
Standhardinger became one of the league’s best big man after being traded by San Miguel to NorthPort in exchange for Mo Tautuaa last Oct. 14.
He averaged 17.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 15 games this conference, his numbers affected by his limited appearances with SMB prior to the trade.
Standhardinger played four games for the Beermen and produced just 3.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 12.8 minutes.
But he capitalized on NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio’s promise to give him significant playing time after the deal and averaged 22.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 40 minutes per contest.
Forty percent of the stats will be used to determine the BPC winner while the rest are votes from the media (30%), players (25%) and the PBA Commissioner’s Office (5%).
Source: Manila Bulletin
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