When Christian Standhardinger told him that San Miguel had traded him to NorthPort for Mo Tautuaa, June Mar Fajardo thought at first that the Filipino-German forward was kidding.
“Noong nag-practice kami sa Gilas, parang lumapit siya sa akin. Sabi niya na parang ‘yun nga, parang nate-trade daw. Sabi ko hindi naman ako naniniwala kasi binibiro niya ako lagi,” he said.
“Ayun nga, totoo pala. Nagulat na lang ako.”
Fajardo and Standhardinger played together even before the latter entered the PBA in 2017 through Gilas Pilipinas. Then when they joined forces in SMB, it resulted in two championships.
Still, the league’s reigning five-time MVP understands that basketball is also a business, and trades are part of it. So now, he only wishes the 6-foot-8 bruiser the best with the Batang Pier.
“Siyempre hindi naman namin control ‘yun. Wish ko lang sa kanya… I mean, maganda ‘yung makakalaro siya doon, makakakuha siya ng maraming time doon,” Fajardo said.
“Good luck na lang sa kanya sa bago niyang team. Alam ko naman na maganda ‘yung ilalaro niya doon.”
Interestingly, Fajardo and Standhardinger will face off right away, since San Miguel and NorthPort lock horns on Wednesday. And for the Beerman, he expects tough competition from his former teammate.
“Of course, of course. Sa practice, napapahirapan nga niya ako, sa game pa kaya.”
