Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
He may be decorated fixture in the pro league, but June Mar Fajardo is well aware that he has yet to prove himself in the international game.
That’s why the soft-spoken four-time PBA Most Valuable Player is challenging himself to perform at his best in the first leg of the Asian qualifiers for the 2019 Fiba World Cup, Ete he will pair up with naturalized center Andray Blatche to provide Gilas Pilipinas a vaunted twin tower combo.
“This is our chance to help the team and the country in our own little way,” he said.
Fajardo has had a rather lackluster run with the Philippine team with his last stint in the 2017 Fiba Asia Cup ended up getting derailed with a calf injury.
Though the 28-year-old big man did see action in the team’s last three games, he only averaged 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds in 12.7 minutes in that run.
Luckily, he gets another crack af showcasing his abilities for the country after being named to coach Chot Reyes’ 12-man roster for the game against Japan on Friday.
Whether he plays heavy minutes or not, Fajardo vows to do what Reyes asks of him.
“Whatever coach tells me to do, what my role is when I’m on the court, I’ll do my best to contribute to the team,” he said.
Gilas faces off against Japan at Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Gymnasium in Tokyo on Friday.