It is no question that June Mar Fajardo is the most dominant cager in the PBA right now — his four straight Most Valuable Player awards speak attest to this But there is still one area that the 27-year-old has yet to prove himself in.
The global basketball stage.
Ever since his inclusion in the Gilas Pilipinas program back in 2013, Fajardo — even with a plethora of medals ranging from the FIBA Asia to SEABA levels — has yet to let himself be known as a major contributor for the Nationals.
The Cebuano was on his way to doing so in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon last August, but an untimely right calf injury, which he incurred days before the tourney, crushed what could have been his coming-out party in the world stage.
So now, that is what the 6-foot-10 slotman aims to do: prove that the Kraken can also be unleashed in global waters.
“Kailangang paghandaan yun. Maging healthy. Gusto kong i-prove sa sarili ko na kaya kong makipagsabayan sa international,” declared the San Miguel Beermen star, after bagging his fourth straight MVP award, Friday night, “Gusto kong tulungan yung team. Kung ano yung ipapagawa ng coach, gagawin ko.
“Kahit anong paanong paraan gusto ko makaka-contribute.”
The 2017 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers will commence on November 24. And that might be the best chance for Fajardo to introduce himself in the international arena, if ever he gets the nod to don the country’s colors without any hindrances.
