June Mar Fajardo is back for Gilas Pilipinas.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
National coach Tim Cone’s outlook heading into the Fiba window is rosy, and much of that optimism is due to longtime Gilas Pilipinas member June Mar Fajardo finally joining the scrum during the Asian Cup qualifiers.
Fajardo missed the first two matches of the continental competition with a calf strain, but is now on track for his tournament debut on Thursday, when the Nationals face a big and physical New Zealand team eager to extend also his hot 2-0 start.
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“He was a dominant player during the (Latvia Olympic Qualifying Tournament) and we expect him to be a dominant player again this window. He’s our pillar and one of our main players,” Cone said of the San Miguel star.
Since that sidelining in February, Fajardo has been on a tear, finding another gear in his game and exposing it to the world in Riga, where he faced equally capable players from Latvia, Montenegro and Brazil. He averaged nine points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in those three games against higher-ranked opponents who were also determined to land a spot in Paris.
Postponed shine
Fajardo’s splendid play continued to the PBA, where he won his eighth MVP award and 11th Philippine Cup Conference Most Valuable Player trophy.
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“You see the way he affects the match with San Miguel? The difference is when he plays and when he doesn’t? It’s the same with Gilas,” Cone said of the Cebuano big man. “He affects the game when he’s not playing, so he’s going to give us our interior presence.”
Front line with Kai
Gilas having Fajardo back in the fold couldn’t be more timely as the Nationals prepare for a revamped Tall Blacks team that Cone believes could shake up some young, physical and imposing players.
Fajardo will also have the chance to continue building cohesion with young center and program cornerstone Kai Sotto, who is also on track for another stint at Gilas after clearing the B.League’s concussion protocols.
“The nice thing is that Kai and June Mar are developing a chemistry where they can play together,” Cone said. (It’s) really unusual to have two 5 players and allow them to play together.
Fajardo turned 35 on Sunday and is currently working hard with Cone and the rest of Gilas to prepare for the two home games which include a return match against Hong Kong on November 24.
“New Zealand… beat us pretty badly when we played them. But I really, really feel like we could beat them this time,” Cone said of their Group B opponents who have won the last four Fiba meetings since the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. organized in Manila.
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“I think there is a feeling of confidence among the players,” he continued. “I think if we come in with the idea that ‘Just believe and we can do it,’ I think we will.” INQ
