AUGUST 8, 2018: San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo gestures after a play against Ginebra. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon
MANILA, Philippines—Nearly five months since the PBA ended the 2020 season, teams are back in business as they kicked off training across several provinces in preparation for the 46th season.
Batangas and Laoag played hosts to the teams’ practices that needed government intervention just to get going after the league met with Malacañang just to get approval for the clubs’ training sessions.
While most of the league waited a few months to get going, six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo had to sit still for more than a year to get his runs with his San Miguel teammates.
WATCH: San Miguel center June Mar Fajardo going through drills during Beermen’s practice at Batangas City Sports Center. Fajardo is returning from a leg injury he suffered last year.
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Fajardo suffered a fractured right tibia in February of 2020 and sat out that year’s Philippine Cup but is now in shape for the Beermen’s practices at Batangas City Sports Center.
The 6-foot-10 center had personal runs, along with assistant coach Boycie Zamar, at San Miguel’s practice facility in Acropolis Subdivision but it was limited to shooting drills and was meant to keep the big man in shape.
Blackwater and NorthPort also had their runs at Batangas City Sports Center while Lyceum International Maritime Academy Gymnasium hosted Barangay Ginebra, Terra Firma, and Magnolia.
Meralco, meanwhile, traveled north to Laoag, Ilocos Norte to hold its training camp.