SOME swaps are good. Mostly, they are even blessings in disguise.
Take the case of Christian Standhardinger.
Right after he was traded to Northport for Mo Tautuaa, Standhardinger appeared like he was sulking.
That is a natural reaction from someone with a superstar status like Standhardinger.
If he had felt slighted by the trade, Standhardinger could not be blamed.
He became a Beerman mainly because he has pedigree.
He was even the object of an impassioned tug-of-war before SMB beat TNT to the draw in the much-publicized ownership battle over the 6-foot-8 Fil-German a couple of years or so ago.
That furor even cost Chito Narvasa his job as Philippine Basketball Association commissioner, paving the way for Willy Marcial’s spectacular ascent to the much-coveted top PBA post that he said he had never dreamed of even in his wildest fantasies.
Was Standhardinger shipped to Northport because his style of play was not suited to SMB’s rotation?
Most probably, yes. Wasn’t he seldom used at SMB?
But how explain the fact that Standhardinger was part of SMB’s back-to-back triumphs in the 2019 Philippine and Commissioner’s Cups, respectively?
And wasn’t he instrumental in containing the opposing import during the crucial stages of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals, immensely helping SMB to prevail and to position itself as well for a second Grand Slam since its 1989 Triple Crown feat?
That’s all water under the bridge now, so to speak.
And credit Standhardinger’s fortitude that he has moved on—very quickly at that.
Proof was his grand game in his debut with Northport that saw him emerge as his team’s best performer.
Though he may have camouflaged his bitterness over his getting bundled out of SMB in subsequent interviews, his rare rant was a given.
For all you know, Standhardinger has found a new home where he could blossom—totally.
And, in the transition, SMB coach Leo Austria, if not RSA, could be a hero in disguise.
CORRECTION. My last Gawilan column said, “...has only four fingers.” It should have been, “...has four fingers missing.”