MANILA – Chris Standhardinger’s much-awaited PBA debut will finally happen on Wednesday night.
The six-foot-eight forward, who the number one pick of last year’s draft, will finally see action for San Miguel when the reigning Commissioner’s Cup champion takes on Meralco in its first match in the mid-season conference at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Standhardinger’s draft rights ended up with the Beermen, who are making their return to play in Asia’s first play-for-pay league following their successful conquest of an unprecedented fourth straight Philippine Cup title, following a controversial trade with Columbian just two days before Draft Day.
Coincidentally, the Dyip will be involved in the first game of the doubleheader, taking on the still undefeated Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters at 4:30 p.m., preceding the 7 p.m. clash between the Beermen and the Bolts.
Also making a debut for San Miguel is Troy Gillenwater, the team’s import for this conference.
However, the team is set to face Meralco, which looks to see a repeat of Chris Newsome’s 30-point blast against NLEX on Friday night.
In the curtain-raiser, ROS looks to once again take the solo lead in the team standings, and the club battles Columbian, which is looking to bounce back from a devastating defeat to Alaska also on Friday night.