Forced to skip the last tour of duty of Gilas Pilipinas due to injury, two-time MPV June Mar Fajardo is happy with the second chance given to him after he was named to the PBA’s 17-man pool for the Olympic Wildcard qualifiers.
“Syempre nakakatuwa kasi nag-skip ako sa last Gilas kasi may injury ako, pero gusto pa rin nila na kunin ako. Ipag-pray lang natin na maging healthy lahat ng players dun sa pool para lahat makasali,” he said.
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(Of course it’s great because even if I skipped the last Gilas stint because I had injury, they still wanted to get me. Let’s just pray that everyone is healthy in the pool so everyone could join.)
The team also gives Fajardo, who was sidelined with plantar fasciitis, a chance to team up with fellow Cebuano giant Greg Slaughter.
“Nakakatuwa kasi almost four years (sa PBA) magkalaban kami. Ngayon, magkakampi na kami kaya excited ako,” he said.
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(It’s great because we are opponents for the last four years [in the PBA]. Now, we’ll get to be teammates so I’m excited.)
The two could’ve been teammates before in their college days in University of Cebu but Slaughter opted to go to University of the Visayas.
Last year’s All-Star Game almost paired the two up, but Fajardo sprained his ankle and ruled him out of the midseason festivities.
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This time, the twin tower partnership may finally come to fruition, and for a much bigger cause – a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Fajardo’s return to Gilas Pilipinas also reunites him with buddy Marc Pingris.
He said that the two of them already talked about the recent development in the national team and both shared the excitement of playing alongside each other anew for Gilas.
With the league’s best already available for the national team, does Fajardo think this could be the best Gilas line-up yet?
“Siguro. Pero depende yun sa preparation eh. Dapat mag-practice lang kami,” he said.
(Maybe. That would depend in the preparation. We should just keep practicing.)