GILAS Pilipinas will not be playing too many powerhouses in the 2017 Southeast Asia Games but head coach Jong Uichico doesn’t want to take any chances.
Uichico has summoned Fil-German cager Christian Standhardhinger, who will join the national squad in its opening game today, Sunday.
His presence will add height and heft to the Gilas Cadet squad led by their younger players including Kiefer Ravena, Troy Rosario and Mike Tolomia. Uichico wants to make sure they won’t be shorthanded against dangerous Thailand which will be the team’s opening game opponent.
Uichico says he feels uncomfortable with their schedule in the 30th Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball tournament.
Thailand is their opponent in their opening game tonight and they are not to be taken lightly.
“We prefer not to play Thailand in our first game, but it’s there already,” said Uichico before the team left for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Thais will have half-American standout Tyler Lamb in their roster, and the Gilas Cadets will face a big challenge with him around.
“That’s why mabigat ang Group A,” said Uichico.
The Fil-German Standhardinger will be a key addition to the SEA Games squad.
Standhardinger was born on July 4, 1989 in Munich to Filipina mother Elizabeth Santos Hermoso who traces her roots to Angono, Rizal. Growing up in Germany, Standhardinger’s maternal grandfather, Boy Hermoso – who played in the Philippines’ CYMCA basketball championship in the 1950s – introduced him to basketball.
Standhardinger played for the national under-18 team of Germany in 2007.
He acquired his Philippine passport after he became 16 years old and is eligible to play for the Philippines but only as a naturalized player .
Standhardinger joined the Philippine national men’s basketball in June, 2017. He played with the team at the 2017 William Jones Cup and the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.
Standhardinger replaced Andray Blatche as the team’s naturalized player after the latter reportedly pulled out because of concerns over the situation in the host country Lebanon.
Team Pilipinas is not only bracketed with Thailand, they are also in the company of Myanmar and Malaysia.
According to Uichico’s scouting reports, Thailand wil be a very different team from the one they faced in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association men’s championship.
This is why Gilas Pilipinas Cadets needs to adjust right away.