MONTALBAN, Rizal – June Mar Fajardo looks forward to playing alongside Quentin Millora-Brown for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers Window 1, saying that the national team is in good hands with him around.
Saying that his time with Gilas is nearing its end, the 35-year-old Fajardo said now is the perfect time to bring in young, taller players in the national squad like the 6-foot-10 Millora-Brown.
“Mas okay ‘yun,” said Fajardo on the inclusion of the 25-year-old QMB in the Gilas pool in an interview with a handful of PBA beat reporters who made the trip to this town for the PBA Philippine Cup match-up between San Miguel and Titan Ultra.
COLUMN: Kai Sotto out, QMB in for Gilas in qualifers vs Guam
“Kailangan natin mag-train ng bata kasi sila na ‘yung future. Ako, wala na ako. Ilang games na lang ako sa Gilas,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo is hoping that young players like QMB will be able to join the Gilas pool. At the moment, Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, and Carl Tamayo are among the younger members of the national team, all of which are playing overseas.
“Puwede nang ibigay sa mga bata. Sila na ang future. Dapat mga bata na ‘yung tine-train para sa future ng national team. Excited ako na makasama siya,” said Fajardo.
Millora-Brown is part of the Gilas team that has been expanded to 16 recently for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers with the inclusion of Ange Kouame and RJ Abarrientos into the pool.
While he remains committed to the national team, the nine-time PBA MVP said he has already logged a lot of games with Gilas and he thinks that he has little left in the tank with the young talent around.
“Tingin ko malapit na ako. Nandiyan naman sila Kai na, ‘yung mga bata. Sila na ‘yung national team. Dapat ipasa na sa kanila, di ba? Para sa future ng national team,” said Fajardo.
Gilas Pilipinas will play a home-and-home series against Guam on November 28 and December 1, the final leg of which to be played at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Sotto though will sit out the two games as he is still recovering from an ACL injury.
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