The reigning Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player is ready to don the Blue and White once more.
After an off-season of bangs and bruises, June Mar Fajardo returned to the Meralco Gym Monday evening to train with the National Men’s Basketball pool that will vie for the last Olympic spot in the Brazil Games.
Fajardo missed the 2015 FIBA Asia tournament two months ago due to a recurring plantar fasciitis or jogger’s heel injury. The injury was caused by the demanding schedule of the PBA Season and his last tour of national duty for Gilas Pilipinas.
The towering Cebuano, though, assures the fans that he has fully recovered from the injury. Moreover, he plans to be in the practices for the next two months, saying “lahat naman kami parepareho ng situwasyon. Same lang kami [lahat] naglalaro sa PBA tapos nagpraractice din kami. Makaka-adjust naman kami.”
Entering the gym, Fajardo was happy to see his old Gilas teammates Marc Pingris, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, and Japeth Aguilar. It felt like a reunion for him. “Siyempre iba na ngayon pero at least kasama ko rin yung mga nakasama ko dati. Sobrang saya ko.” He then added, “Nandun pa rin yung familiarity namin sa isa’t isa.”
Asked about the chances the stacked Gilas team faces, the PBA MVP did not guarantee that the team will win. “Di ko masasabi e. Sabi naman ni coach basta ibigay namin yung kaya namin and pagdating namin sa game, huwag namin isipin na malakas yung kalaban. Isipin na lang namin na malakas din kami,” Fajardo said. But one thing is sure for the big man, that they will give everything they have to represent the Three Stars and the Sun.
“Privilege talaga ito. Sobrang blessed namin na makasama dito. Kailangan na namin gawin ang dapat naming gawin. Sana lang walang ma-injury,” he closed.
