JUNE MAR FAJARDO, THE FUTURE OF PHILIPPINE BASKETBALL
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 30 Sep 2012
The Philippine Basketball Association 38th season opens today with the Philippine Cup as the first conference. And all eyes are set on the Cebuano number one rookie draftee June Mar Fajardo. ?He?s the future of Philippine basketball.? These were the words of Arwind Santos, Petron Blaze Booster teammate as told to InterAKTV, the official TV station of the PBA. ?Just a little experience and we will help him improve and become a little bit tougher.?
In his first tune up game, the 6-foot-10, 22-year-old behemoth amazed several fans when he scored 17 points against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the 2012 PBA Governors? Cup champions. Petron will play Rain or Shine anew at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on October 3, 2012 and this time it will be Fajardo?s PBA debut.
?He has size, strength and skills. Potent combination,? said former national team player Chris Tiu. He added that it will be good to see Fajardo joining the Philippine team because his level of play is of international caliber. Fajardo is now training under former Smart-Gilas Pilipinas coach Rajko Toroman, the coaching consultant for Petron.
National team member Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine believes Fajardo will make an explosive showing in his rookie stint. ?Definitely, he will make an impact and he will be an important piece for Petron, which is rebuilding for the future,? said Norwood.
?He?s strong, he?s got the height, he can shoot and he can run. To all the players who will try to stop him, look out,? said Petron center Dorian Pe?a in an InterAKTV interview. ?How many Filipino players are 6-foot-10, can shoot, can run and has strong body? If several people believe Japeth Aguilar has a chance of making it to the NBA, I think June Mar has a better chance of making it to the big league,? said Pe?a.
?I hope I can help the team in rebound, scoring and defense,? said Fajardo, a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate at University of Cebu. ?But I still have to improve on my perimeter shooting, and free throw. I?ll practice hard to improve and get prepared for the PBA season.?
Atty. Augusto Go, owner of UC whom Fajardo gave several championships said, ?When he was selected by Petron as the number one pick, he visited me in my UC office. You cannot find a more humble person. June Mar was so grateful and thankful. But I told him, ?No, it is I who should say thank you for all that you have brought to our school,?? John Pages reported.
I had three personal encounters with the 2012 top PBA rookie draftee. First when the M. Lhuillier ?reinforced Maasin City basketball team played the Fajardo-led Mandaue City team during the Hilongos Fiesta Basketball Open, where our team won the title. Second was when University of Cebu, University of San Carlos, Southwestern University and University of San Carlos played during the Maasin City Inter-Collegiate Invitational Championships. Third was at the Cebu City Sports Center when I jogged with my wife Chona and met the UC Webmasters doing their workout. And I could say Fajardo is a gentle giant off the court and a glittering goliath in the hardcourt.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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