FOSHAN, CHINA - June Mar Fajardo is under no illusion that he's anywhere close to the level Serbia's NBA star Nikola Jokic has reached.
Not even close, he swore.
"Syempre malayo pa, NBA 'yon eh," Fajardo said a day after he and the rest of the Gilas Pilipinas frontline were dwarfed by Jokic and compatriot Boban Marjanovic in their 2019 Fiba World Cup group match on Monday night.
"At least tinry ko ang best ko na makipagsabayan sa kanila," he said. "But 'yun nga, team game to, hindi naman individual na laban."
At 6-10 and 260 pounds, Fajardo figures he gave up around five inches and more than 40 lbs to Marjanovic. He isn't too intimidated physically with Jokic but can only marvel at the skills the Denver Nuggets star has at such a young age.
Asked what impressed him the most about Jokic, Fajardo said its the NBA star's outside shooting and passing.
"'Yung tira sa labas at ang passing," the San Miguel Beer star slotman said. "Kapag kay Jokic kasi 'yung bola, gumagalaw ang lahat [ng kakampi] so napapasahan n'ya. Hindi lang nakatayo mga kakampi n'ya."
It is those same skills that Fajardo said he hopes to polish once he gets home from his second World Cup.
The gentle giant from Pinamungajan, Cebu has always had a soft touch around the basket. But he has never been called upon to extend his range to well beyond 15 feet like most big men in the international game at San Miguel. His passing skills have been average, at best.
But the good thing about Fajardo is that he never stops learning.
Fajardo had his big breakout during the 2014 Fiba World Cup in Seville, Spain when he held the fort after naturalized player Andray Blatche fouled out in the historic Gilas win over Senegal. He has won every PBA MVP ever since.
The big man now hopes to do the same after this World Cup.
"Gusto ko naman mag-improve palagi eh. Ayoko maging stagnant," said Fajardo. "Kung ano 'yung pwede kong iimprove, iwo-work out ko pagbalik sa Pinas."
A late bloomer who only started playing basketball seriously at age 18 early in his college years, Fajardo is 29 and just approaching his peak years. So count on him to still be there for Gilas come the 2023 World Cup in Manila.
A better Fajardo, for sure.
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