People wanting to see June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and Mark Caguioa of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will have to wait for next season before seeing their idols strut their wares in the PBA All-Star Game.
The two Most Valuable Players suffered different injuries prior to the break, forcing them to miss the All-Star Weekend, which fires off on Friday with the traditional skills competitions.
Fajardo, the 6-foot-10 slotman assigned to start as center, was unable to make the trip in hope of recuperating from a severe ankle sprain he sustained in their last game against Barako Bull.
The Cebuano center landed awkwardly and had to be subbed out after playing for seven minutes. He didn’t return for the game after that.
Team manager Gee Abanilla immediately advised the PBA Commissioner’s Office, explaining that Fajardo is not fit to travel as it might worsen the injury.
Caguioa, on the other hand, suffered a hip injury in a collision with Blackwater rookie Brian Heruela.
Fajardo was supposed to start for the South team where he had a chance to team up with long-time rival Greg Slaughter, the seven-foot cager of Barangay Ginebra, and 42-year-old Asi Taulava, the 6-foot-9 center of NLEX and the oldest participant in the tournament.
The three could have formed the tallest frontline ever in PBA history.
Taking over the spot of Fajardo is Joe Devance, who was plucked from the reserved list and the highest vote-getter among the players coming from the bench, to start in place of the injured reigning MVP.
Gin King LA Tenorio will assume the spot of Caguioa.
