At A Glance
- San Miguel ace June Mar Fajardo is keeping his Gilas duty aside for a moment as he sets sights on the Beermen's finals berth in the 2024 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
One duty calls, another waits.
San Miguel ace June Mar Fajardo is keeping his Gilas duty aside for a moment as he sets sights on the Beermen’s finals berth in the 2024 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The 34-year-old big man is headed to his first championship appearance since San Miguel’s last title victory in the 2022 Philippine Cup and after returning from a hand injury that saw him miss a chunk of the season-opening conference.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) revealed on Monday, Jan. 29, its Gilas Pilipinas 12-man pool for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers which was bannered by the veteran center.
While Fajardo is looking forward to reuniting with national team head coach Tim Cone, he is saving his undivided focus on helping the Beermen in their 44th finals appearance following a three-game sweep of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the semifinals.
“Excited ako makasama ulit si coach Tim at sa Gilas. Pero hindi muna ‘yun ngayon ‘yung focus ko. After na ng finals [ko iisipin],” Fajardo said during the 2023 Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night where he was feted as its Mr. Basketball at the Diamond Hotel.
"Masaya kami nakapasok kami sa finals. Kasi medyo matagal tagal na rin kaming hindi nakakapaglaro sa finals. And then paghahandaan namin ‘yun,” he said.
San Miguel is riding on a nine-game winning and now waits for the winner of the other semis pairing between the Magnolia Hotshots and the Phoenix Fuel Masters.