June Mar Fajardo vows Gilas Pilipinas will ‘put up a fight’ in Fiba World Cup

Gilas Pilipinas center June Mar Fajardo.

MANILA, Philippines — June Mar Fajardo believes Gilas Pilipinas needs to execute better on defense when Gilas Pilipinas kicks off its Fiba World Cup 2023 hosting on Friday at Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

After the last two of their three friendlies against Montenegro and Mexico, the six-time PBA Most Valuable Player pointed out the kinks they need to iron out with two days left before their World Cup opener.

“We need to work out our defense as a team. We need to tighten that,” Fajardo told Inquirer Sports. “We have to execute our plays and we still have a lot of turnovers. The coaches have been emphasizing minimizing turnovers so we can execute well.”

Amid their lapses, the 6-foot-10 Fajardo believes the nationals are on the right track of putting up a gallant stand in front of their home crowd when they battle the Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominican Republic on the opener, Angola, and Italy in Group A.

“We have good chemistry, we work well together and we need to show that during the game,” Fajardo said. “We will put up a good fight.”

It will be Fajardo’s third straight World Cup appearance–as many as team captain Japeth Aguilar. The twin towers represented the country’s global comeback in Seville, Spain back in 2014 when they earned one win over Senegal before a winless campaign in Foshan, China four years ago.

HOMETOWN CROWD BOOST

With Gilas also trying to book an outright ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics if it ends up as the best Asian team in the World Cup,  the 33-year-old national team mainstay vows not to disappoint the home crowd by leaving everything on the floor.

“I will do everything to help the team. I will follow what coach asks me today. I promise to give my best,” Fajardo said.

“The home crowd will be a big factor. It will boost our confidence. I hope we can execute our roles during the game so we can give the crowd a good game.”

The San Miguel Beermen star downplayed his upcoming duel with Minnesota Timberwolves big man Towns of the Dominican Republic as he chose to focus on delivering in all their games in Group A as Gilas hopes to qualify for the next round by winning at least two matches.

“Of course I’m excited to battle against Dominican, also Angola and Italy. We’re preparing hard, we’re doing viewings and we’re running our plays,” Fajardo said.