JUNE Mar Fajardo and Calvin Oftana won’t be suiting up when Gilas Pilipinas takes on the Macau Black Bears in a sendoff game prior to departure for the FIBA Asia Cup.
Coach Tim Cone disclosed the two players will be sitting out the 7:30 p.m. encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to give them additional time to fully rest following the grueling PBA Philippine Cup finals between Fajardo's San Miguel and Oftana's TNT.
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Fajardo and Oftana were nursing separate injuries during the course of the best-of-seven series, which the Beermen won in six games.
The PBA’s only eighth-time MVP played with a slight tear in his calf, while the Tropang 5G gunner ran through a sprain in his two ankles.
Cjay Perez, who also saw action in the all-Filipino finals for the Beermen, will be available to play, although his minutes will be managed.
“June Mar and Calvin will not play. Cjay will be limited minutes,” Cone shared with SPIN.ph.
Gilas getting going
Gilas broke camp afternoon of Sunday after spending the weekend in training at the Hustle Fitness Performance in Pampanga.
With the exception of Fajardo, Oftana, and Perez, the rest of national team players were in attendance including Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, RJ Abarrientos, Chris Newsome, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, and the returning Justin Brownlee.
Cone said he’s tempering expectations in Gilas' game against the Black Bears, who feature one-and-done University of the Philippines big man Quentin Millora-Brown.
“We’ll be more concerned about the quality of our play than the final score,” said Cone ahead of the Philippines’ lone friendly at home before leaving for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
“We just want to make sure we’re executing on both sides of the ball.”
Gilas will play one more tuneup game against Jordan four days upon its arrival in the Middle East, before opening its campaign in the Asia Cup against Chinese Taipei on August 6.
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