JUNE Mar Fajardo has found not just a frontcourt partner but a new bosom buddy at Gilas Pilipinas camp in Japeth Aguilar.
While forming a triple tower combination with Raymond Almazan on the court, Fajardo and Aguilar are also starting to develop a bond off it.
“Oo, si Jap na (ang bago kong bestfriend),” Fajardo said with a smile as he sat beside Aguilar after national team practice on Monday night.
It’s a bond Fajardo once shared with Marc Pingris, who has probably made his curtain call with the national team.
“Oo, tagal namin hindi nagkita tapos wala siya dito, so syempre nami-miss ko rin siya,” Fajardo said of his DOTA playmate. “Siya yung lagi kong kasama dito. Pero ganun talaga, kailangan mag-move on.”
“Nakaka-miss yung mga kuya namin, pero ganun talaga eh; kami na 'yung medyo kuya,” the 27-year-old cager added. “Si Japeth siguro nararamdaman niya (na kuya na siya); ako, sakto pa lang.”
That’s why Fajardo is reluctant to take on the Gilas captaincy, a role, he believes, that fits Jayson Castro and even Aguilar.
“Hindi para sa akin yun (captaincy),” the reigning PBA MVP of San Miguel Beer said. “Paano ako magiging captain ball, hindi nga ako nagsasalita eh. Si Jayson bagay dun, sila Japeth. Tapos dun lang kami, suporta.
“(Pero) hindi man ako masyado nagsasalita, pero kung anong pwede kong matulong, ibibigay ko,” he was quick to add.
