MANILA, Philippines – It will have been comprehensible if June Mar Fajardo received cocky. Even for slightly bit.
The San Miguel massive man, in spite of everything, has earned it.
9 season MVP awards, 10 Legendary First Group choices, 12 championships, and 13 Greatest Participant of the Convention plums, on prime of different notable honors that make up an in depth checklist of his profession achievements, have put Fajardo within the dialog as the best participant in PBA historical past.
And but, the Cebuano stays the identical unassuming man who entered the league in 2012.
“The one factor that’s modified is his hair. I do know for certain he’s most likely had 15 totally different hairstyles. Aside from that, he’s been the identical mild large,” mentioned teammate Marcio Lassiter, who joined the Beermen the identical yr the group drafted Fajardo because the No. 1 general decide.
“He’s goofy, he’s humorous. However he’s right down to earth. You don’t actually see that. While you’re goofy, you sort need the eye. However with him, he can shed the sunshine.”
Fajardo’s arrival breathed new life to a proud franchise that has dominated the league during the last decade.
After going with no Philippine Cup title for 10 consecutive seasons prior Fajardo’s addition, San Miguel captured an unprecedented 5 straight All-Filipino crowns from 2014 to 2019. No different group in PBA historical past has received it greater than 3 times.
Throughout the identical span, Fajardo broke the report for many MVP wins, which legends Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio beforehand shared with 4 every, as he already bagged his sixth by the tip of solely his seventh season within the league.
The awards haven’t stopped coming.
Within the not too long ago concluded Philippine Cup, Fajardo claimed a report fifth Finals MVP plum and have become the first-ever recipient of the Ramon Fernandez Trophy as he led the Beermen to a profitable title repeat.
Profitable a lot can get one filled with himself, however not Fajardo.
“I by no means let my accolades and awards get to my head. As a result of once you do, there’s a bent to develop into boastful. Once I obtain awards, I settle for them, I’m grateful for them, and I hold them in my coronary heart. I cherish them and I hold them in my coronary heart, however in my thoughts, I by no means take into consideration having received something,” mentioned Fajardo in Filipino.
“Each convention, each season, I at all times assume to myself, ‘I hope I can get my first championship.’ I by no means allow them to get to my head. I don’t wish to be conceited.”
That blank-slate strategy has allowed Fajardo to keep away from complacency and proceed increasing his sport whilst he enters the twilight of his profession at 36.
When Fajardo received his most up-to-date MVP final season, he posted profession highs in rebounds (15.1) and assists (3.1). His common of 19.2 factors was additionally his highest because the 2017-2018 season, when he was simply 29 years previous.
Fajardo’s mixture of dominance and modesty remind teammate Chris Ross of NBA nice Tim Duncan, whose low-key persona marked twenty years of sustained success by the San Antonio Spurs that produced 5 championships.
“He’s probably the most unselfish participant that I’ve ever performed with. When somebody like that’s selfless and tremendous unselfish, everybody else has to observe,” mentioned Ross.
“Me, rising up in San Antonio, Texas, and being a giant Spurs followers, it’s plenty of similarities to Tim Duncan, so far as not wanting the highlight, with the ability to be coached, wanting your teammates to succeed. He has plenty of qualities that Tim Duncan has.”
“With out him being that approach, we don’t win all these championship as a result of he needs to share the highlight, he needs to share the ball. He’s actually the usual.”
Discovered it from mama and papa
Fajardo factors to his dad and mom for the way in which he’s right this moment.
Though their household didn’t have a lot rising up, with Fajardo initially pursuing basketball as a way to get a university scholarship on the College of Cebu, he was wealthy in classes from father Bonifacio and late mom Marites.
“They advised me to remain humble regardless of how far I am going in life, to point out others respect, and to by no means choose and by no means put others down,” Fajardo mentioned.
“I’m grateful to my dad and mom though we had been poor. We got here from poverty, however my dad and mom caught with one another in order that they will increase me and my sibling correctly and self-discipline us the appropriate approach,” he added. “It actually begins with the household.”
Fajardo’s upbringing exhibits in the way in which he presents himself.
Whereas he has all the cash on this planet to decorate himself with fancy garments, Fajardo wears his personal clothes model, Kraken Attire.
He additionally drives the identical Toyota FJ Cruiser given to him by San Miguel massive boss Ramon S. Ang when he joined the group 14 years in the past.
Other than his affinity for gaming, Fajardo mentioned his responsible pleasure is investing within the inventory market, cryptocurrency, and actual property.
“I’m comfy in my very own pores and skin. I don’t wish to slot in with others,” mentioned Fajardo. “While you attempt to slot in with different folks, it feels such as you want their approval. I don’t want anybody’s approval. I’m pleased with who I’m.”
“When there’s no follow, I’m simply chilling at residence, enjoying on-line video games, watching films, consuming on my own with my canine. I’m glad doing all that. I simply keep in my lane. I don’t compete with anybody else.”
Fajardo by no means forgets the place he got here from.
Each after convention or season, Fajardo is at all times itching to fly again to Cebu to get much-needed downtime earlier than he plunges again to motion as he additionally serves Gilas Pilipinas.
“He’s a easy man. He loves the sport, he likes to calm down. He loves fishing and being out on the water. He loves Cebu. You see it in every part that he does,” mentioned former nationwide group captain Gabe Norwood, who performed with Fajardo within the FIBA World Cup in 2014 and 2019.
“Some guys don’t utterly come into the league and sort of respect all that they’ve and he’s not a type of guys. You’ll be able to inform he appreciates the chance to exit and play, to be along with his teammates and his mates, and in the end, he loves being residence and representing the place he’s from.”
For somebody like Fajardo who most likely has all of it, longtime San Miguel utility employees Gani Malindog has his fingers crossed that the star lastly meets the love of his life.
“I hope he finds somebody who will care for him,” mentioned Malindog. “We’re not getting any youthful.” – Rappler.com
