Fajardo joins Gilas

CEBUANO giant June Mar Fajardo is excited with his upcoming stint with the Philippine national men’s basketball team.
The 6’10” player from Pinamungajan, Cebu is one of the 17 players named by national team head coach Chot Reyes to become part of the 17-man Gilas Pool, which will be trimmed down to 12 for the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship event on August 1-11 in Manila.

“Gitawagan ko sa PBA gabii (Wednesday evening) para i-inform ko nga apil ko sa national team. Excited ko ani kay first time ko maka-apil sa national team. Opportunity na ni nako aron makat-on pa gyud,” Fajardo told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

Reyes also picked Fajardo’s teammate at Petron Blaze Boosters Arwind Santos, Barangay Ginebra Kings’ LA Tenorio, San Mig Coffee Mixers’ Marc Pingris, Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals’ Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro, Jared Dillinger, Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes and Larry Fonacier.

Globart Port’s Japeth Aguilar, Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Alaska Aces’ Sonny Thoss, naturalized center Marcus Douthit and former University of the Visayas Green Lancer Greg Slaughter.

This will be the first time the former UC Webmasters will be part of the country’s basketball squad though he was invited countless of times by the first Gilas team that was coached by Serbian Rajko Toroman.

“Additional exposure pud ning national team especially kay Fiba-Asia among duwaan. Makakuha ko og experience and ang training makatabang nako inig balik unya nako sa Petron,” said Fajardo.

Fajardo is also hoping he can learn a few things from Douthit who has been playing international basketball since his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.

Basketball experts believed that this team is the tallest, most athletic and skilful squad that the Philippines ever assembled.

The 7’ Slaughter is the tallest, while Douthit is 6-11 and Fajardo is 6’10.

“Duna na koy experience gamay playing against big men. Sa ABL dagko man mga import didto but Fiba is different. Mas dagko ang mga kontra unya mas lisod ang competition.”