June Mar Fajardo has given the San Miguel Beermen another reason to smile.
The reigning, four-time PBA Most Valuable Player made it known that he has been recovering from his leg injury, and that he is aiming to return to the fold this October.
Fajardo said as much on Friday night, after his Beermen put an end to their three-game slide in the 2018 Governors’ Cup at the expense of Eugene Phelps and the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 117-100.
“Okay naman. Getting better. Ang lapit na,” said an cast-free Fajardo.
“Makakalaro ako this month.”
The Beermen have struggled in the season-ending conference without the 6-foot-10 slotman, which is why Fajardo cannot wait anymore to get his feet wet again with his teammates.
“Nabobored din ako kasi wala akong ginagawa.
“Iba yung tumatakbo. Ginagawa ko lang swimming, bike, pero iba talaga yung takbo. Mas gusto ko yun,” said the Cebuano superstar.
As his injury has forced him to sit out for two months, Fajardo’s chances of winning his unprecedented fifth MVP award took a hit. As per the league’s rules, he needs to play 70 percent of SMB’s games.
But in a report by Spin.ph, Fajardo only needs to suit up for just one game this conference so that he could bag home the highest individual plum – he has already played 44 of their 45 matches.
That is the least of Fajardo’s concerns, however.
“Focus ko makabalik sa game. Gusto ko makalaro. Gusto kong tumakbo ulit sa court dahil ang tagal ko na ‘di nagawa yun. Two months na siguro. Nami-miss ko rin yung games,” said the 28-year-old.
“Sana makalaro ako, hindi lang for the sake na makuha ko yung seventy percent [para sa MVP]. Gusto ko maglaro ako na normal, yung normal na laro ko. Kaya naman eh. Sana makalaro na ako.”
