With overseas options available, Dyip may not serve as a new home but a getaway car for Standhardinger

christian standhardinger ginebra

PHOTO: JEROME ASCANO

LAS VEGAS – The idea that Christian Standhardinger is the savior who will turn a perennial loser into a winner must be a wonder to behold for the Terrafirma Dyip.

Unfortunately, it’s also a fantasy.

C-Stan, who was traded last Saturday alongside Stanley Pringle for Stephen Holt, Isaac Go and a swap of draft picks, will likely play only one conference with Terrafirma, multiple sources told SPIN.ph.

The former Ginebra star is headed overseas.

Instead of riding with the Dyip, the Fil-German is expected to be in a getaway car shortly, as far from the PBA as possible.

AND WHY WOULDN’T HE ESCAPE?

Standhardinger is a 4-time PBA champ, a two-time All-Star and and twice a Best Player of the Conference awardee. He still loves to collect trophies, a task that is completely alien to Terrafirma.

The ramshackle Dyip hasn’t raced for, let alone capture, a championship since entering the league in 2014. And at age 35, Christian doesn’t wanna stick around and see if a miracle will end the drought.

Here’s another reason why the 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward ain’t too excited at Terrafirma: The pay.

A max player at Ginebra, C-Stan was also receiving incentives that were tied to team success such as playoffs bonuses and up to three months extra pay for titles captured, I’ve been told.

These perks are not necessarily available at Terrafirma because they barely win.

Where he is headed remains a mystery but with a strong work ethic and five-star credentials, C-Stan’s myriad of options including the German League or the Japan B.League where he can be a world import.

Adios, sayonara.

christian standhardinger ginebra meralco game three

ANYWHERE BUT TERRAFIRMA.

If you think that’s spicy, wait ’til you hear this: Apparently, my sources added, Ginebra is possibly aware that C-Stan is leaving the PBA soon.

If true, Terrafirma may have just been fleeced in a “trick trade” where in a few months from now, the only assets the Dyip can show for giving away Holt and Go is a 37-year old Pringle and a 10th pick that turned out to be Mark Nonoy.

I feel so sorry for them.

But, what if Terrafirma knew all along, too, and chose to roll with the script to be gullible?

Then I’ll feel sorry for all the PBA fans out there. They may have been played like a guitar.