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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider After crushing TNT's Grand Slam dream, June Mar Fajardo wants one for SMB

After crushing TNT's Grand Slam dream, June Mar Fajardo wants one for SMB

Published Jul 27, 2025 05:13 pm

At A Glance

  • Fresh off crushing TNT's Grand Slam hopes, June Mar Fajardo expressed his own desire to achieve the rare and coveted PBA triple crown.
June Mar Fajardo wants a Grand Slam. (PBA Images)
June Mar Fajardo wants a Grand Slam. (PBA Images)
Fresh off crushing TNT’s Grand Slam hopes, June Mar Fajardo expressed his own desire to achieve the rare and coveted PBA triple crown.
While he maintained that stopping the Tropang 5G wasn’t the Beermen’s motivation in the finals, the Cebuano gentle giant admitted he would love to win a Grand Slam himself.
“‘Yun yung goal ko eh,” said the ever humble 6-foot-10 behemoth.
“Pag nagpipush up nga ako nasa harap ng salamin sa baba ng salamin nakalagay ‘Win a Grand Slam’ eh nandun. Isa iyon sa nagbibigay ng motivation sa akin,” he added.
With eight MVP awards, 12 Best Player of the Conference honors, and 11 championships to his name, the Grand Slam remains the only accolade that has eluded June Mar Fajardo in his 13-year PBA career.
“Alam naman natin kung gaano kahirap na makuha yung grand slam hindi naman pwedeng sabihin na gusto natin ng grand slam tas makukuha natin. Pagtitirabahuan pa rin namain yon,” said SMB pillar.
Fajardo, however, is no stranger to Grand Slam talks, having had two chances to achieve the feat in his career.
The Beermen, then bannered by their prolific ‘Death Five’ lineup composed of Fajardo, Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter and former starsAlex Cabagnot, came close to a Grand Slam twice, in 2017 and 2019. On both occasions, they clinched the All-Filipino and Commissioner’s Cup titles, only to fall short in the Governors’ Cup, bowing out in the quarterfinals each time to Barangay Ginebra.
“Dalawang beses na mag grand slam na sana pero hindi nangyari. Pero hopeful pa rin ako na makakakuha ako ng Grand Slam syempre yun yung goal natin as much as possible makakuha ng maraming championships,” he added.
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