Back in 2013, a young June Mar Fajardo was part of Gilas Pilipinas team that made it all the way to the Finals of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
The proud son of Pinamungajan, Cebu was far from his MVP-form back then, however. He had yet to experience PBA gold, and was playing behind the likes of Marcus Douthit, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, and Japeth Aguilar.
Fast forward four years later, Fajardo has now won five Best Player of the Conference honors, four PBA Championships, and three Most Valuable Player crowns. And at the young age of 27 years old, he is now one of the elder statesmen in the Gilas Pilipinas pool.
Tuesday night, the 6-foot-11 big man shared that he still looks for Pingris, De Ocampo, Gabe Norwood, and Gary David every time he enters the Meralco Gym.
“Mapasama pa lang sa Gilas, isang karangalan yun e. Matagal na kaming nagsama ni coach Chot [Reyes], madami na kaming pinagdaanan,” said Fajardo, who was in street clothes Tuesday night during Gilas’ practice.
“Pero na-mimiss ko na yung mga kuya ko, yung mga unang ka-batch ko nung rookie ako.”
During the Gilas’ journey to the 2014 FIBA World Cup, on-court rivals turned into brothers-at-arms. But for Fajardo, it was more than just that. From his late-night DOTA sessions with Pingris, to the mentorship he gained from De Ocampo, it was a life-changing experience that not only made him a better basketball player but also a better human being.
“Sila yung nag-ga-guide sa akin noon,” he reflected.
The current composition of Gilas Pilipinas has Fajardo marked as the third eldest player. Though he has yet to fully grasp the responsibility that comes with it, he admits that he is working on becoming, as he has been pegged by the Gilas Pilipinas staff.
“Ngayon, ako na isa sa mga kuya pero hindi pa ko sanay.
“Basta ako, gagawin kong lahat ng maitutulong ko sa team. Kung ano yung gustong pagawa sa akin ni coach Chot gagawin ko,” he promised.
But still, it’s safe to say that the former Gilas players have groomed Fajardo for this.
