Fajardo taking threes? Don’t bet on it, says Austria

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

For those dreaming of June Mar Fajardo’s transition from a menacing post-up player to a sweet-shooting ace, well, don’t get your hopes up.

San Miguel head coach Leo Austria prefers his two-time MVP underneath the basket hurting people, grabbing rebounds, and not hoisting up long bombs.

“Ang sinasabi ko sa kanya, kung ika’y titira sa labas, sino re-rebound para sayo? I think it’s better na si (Marcio) Lassiter ang tumira at ikaw ang taga-rebound,” said Austria in an interview on Sports IQ.

Austria, though, said there will be moments during the game when the 6-foot-10 big man will have to take triples.

“Pero may times na pwede siyang tumira, especially pag broken play and kung nandiyan ka na wala kang dapat gawin kundi itira yan, pero I’m not encouraging him.”

“Maybe iniisip nila sa international competition, puwede, dahil yung bigs talagang tumitira sa labas. Ang advantage niya talaga is sa shaded area, as much as possible, I want him in the shaded area.”

Austria has a good reason why he wants Fajardo to stay in the lane.

Fajardo rarely attempts a 3-pointer and when he does it usually doesn’t find the bottom of the net as a 7.7 percent shooter from that area.

Austria said Fajardo doesn’t need to stretch the offense of San Miguel and all his big man has to do is dominate the paint, an area he practically owned in his MVP seasons.

“I keep on telling him, ‘June Mar hindi mo kailangan lumayo dahil nandyan yung advantage mo e. Hangga’t walang nakaka-stop sayo dyan mo gawin ang mga dapat mong gawin. Kung nahihirapan ka na, that’s the time na mag-isip ka na ng iba.’”/rga