PBA All-Star June Mar Fajardo tests his mettle in 3-point shootout

San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo plays in the PBA Philippine Cup opener. –PBA IMAGES

BACOLOD CITY—June Mar Fajardo will now take part in the big man edition of the three-point shootout to be held for the first time Saturday in the PBA All-Star Weekend here.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed that Fajardo is going to replace Mo Tautuaa as San Miguel Beer’s representative in the inaugural staging of the contest at University of St. La Salle Coliseum.

Marcial added that it was Fajardo himself who requested if he could participate since he is already cleared from a calf injury that bothered him during San Miguel Beer’s run to the championship of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

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Fajardo, the PBA chief recalled, was on the initial list of participants until the injury which came during the Finals prompted the league to tap Tautuaa instead.

“I hope I could perform well because the other participants are known for hitting a lot of outside shots,” Fajardo said Friday after he was informed of his inclusion in the event.

Barangay Ginebra’s Ralph Cu, Blackwater’s Christian David, Converge’s Keith Saldivar, Meralco’s Raymond Almazan, NLEX’s Dave Marcelo, NorthPort’s JM Calma, Phoenix’s Jason Perkins, Rain or Shine’s Santi Santillan, Terrafirma’s Isaac Go and TNT’s Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser are the other players set to take part in the long-distance competition.

READ: PBA: June Mar Fajardo back on the court, shows off 3-point shooting touch

The big man shootout replaces the Slam Dunk contest, which was scrapped in the list of skills events for the annual extravaganza.

Magnolia’s Paul Lee will defend the standard three-point competition against a field that includes two-time winner James Yap of Blackwater.