Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — For skipping his national team duties due to an injury, reigning Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) back-to-back MVP June Mar Fajardo was on the receiving end of tirades from some Filipino basketball fans.
But the 6-10 center from Cebu just shrugged it off and vowed that if called-up in the future, he would definitely suit up for Gilas Pilipinas.
Well, only if he’s healthy.
Related: No point in arguing who should be in Gilas roster, Salud says
“Basta ako, kapag healthy lang tas kukunin ako ng Gilas, maglalaro ako,” said Fajardo during the PBA Press Corps Awards on Wednesday night (September 16) after he was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.
“Yun lang naman problema ng players, yung injury. Katawan namin ang puhunan so kailangan ingatan.”
He added, “Wala akong magawa e. Sasama ako dun (Gilas) tapos hindi ako magpa-practice sa team, baka isipin nagbabakasyon lang ako. Ayoko naman isipin ng tao ‘yun. Pahinga lang talaga.”
Nonetheless, the gentle giant said he is proud of the present members of Gilas who made good account of themselves in the Jones Cup in Taiwan and MVP Cup in the Philippines.
“Nakaka-proud din, maganda ‘yung nilaro nila e,” Fajardo, who was part of the Gilas squad that ended up second in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila.
Related: SBP announces Gilas 3.0 final lineup
The Filipinos are eyeing a return trip to the Olympics, and to do that, they have to put the stranglehold on the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship trophy.
Fajardo touted to be the centerpiece of Gilas coach Tab Baldwin’s blueprint. But due to the plantar fasciitis injury he sustained following a season where his team, the San Miguel Beermen, captured two championships, he had to beg off.
According to Fajardo, although his injury is slowly healing, he still feels a twinge in his feet every once in a while.
“Sumasali na ako sa practice (ng San Miguel). Kahapon tumakbo kami sa oval tapos biglang sumakit,” he said.
