Southeast Asian Games gold medalist
June Mar Fajardo can finally call himself as much after he and Gilas Pilipinas asserted their supremacy in the region following a dominant showing in the 30th SEA Games here in Manila.
The all-pro squad swept its way to another gold, helping the Philippines extend its dominion over men’s basketball to 13 straight times and increasing its collection to 18 titles overall.
“Gold medalist na ako,” said Fajardo, whose only taste of glory in the region prior was in the 2017 SEABA Championships. “First gold ko sa SEA Games. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ulit ako makakalaro sa SEA Games.
“Ito ‘yung una so sobrang saya. Emotional ako ngayon.”
For the PBA’s reigning five-time Most Valuable Player, he will forever cherish this triumph. Fajardo has said before that he has really been raring to add a SEA Games gold to his collection.
“Iki-keep ko ito hanggang sa tumanda ako, hanggang sa mawala ako sa PBA. Sobrang ganda.”
The Cebuano star, moreover, expressed that he feels proud to have achieved this kind of success with his teammates, who, just like him, are bona fide stars in the PBA but played like one all for the country.
“Sobrang saya, sobrang sarap, sobrang proud na naging part ako ng grupo na ito na nakakuha ng gold medal,” he said.
The last time Fajardo reported for national team duties was in the 2019 FIBA World Cup last September. It was a nightmarish campaign for Gilas, though, as it went winless in all its five games.
For Fajardo, he hopes that this SEA Games gold has atoned for their showing in the global showpiece.
“Nalungkot tayo nung World Cup, pero napasaya naman natin ‘yung mga kababayan natin dahil nakuha natin ngayon ‘yung gold,” said Fajardo, who’s been into two World Cups.
“‘Yung mga kababayan naman natin, siguro naman proud sila sa na-achieve natin.”
