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Philippines, 18 Oct 2025 |
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Gentle Giant June Mar Fajardo By Eddie Alinea PhilBoxing.com Sun, 26 Jul 2015  Fajardo. Imagine a 6-foot-10 inch, well-built back-to-back PBA MVP, and picture him to be a cocky, bullying guy, throwing his weight around everybody on and off the playing court. Now, listen to newy-crowned PBA Governors' Cup champion San Miguel Beer team captain Arwind Santos, who swears league 2014 and 2015 best player June Mar Fajardo is far from what the uninitiated ordinary basketball fans perceive to be. "June Mar never raised his voice in the three years we've been together as teammates," Santos, the guy Fajardo succeeded as MVP the first time he earned he honor, attested. "Para ngang hindi makababasag ng pinggan." "I've never even head him say 'ta....a...d ..' or something to that effect," Santos, known as "Spider Man" in the local basketball world, said. During practice and pre-game huddles, June Mar never vowed to lick anyone who would be assigned to cross his path, according to the Beeermen skipper. "He allows the other guys do the bragging then gets on the floor and gives them lesson in humility." Indeed, the only third man to win two straight MVP in the country's first and only existing pro-league is too good to be true. This writer found out in a cellphone interview a week after helping the Beermen sweep Alaska Milk in their best-of-seven title series. "Hello po. Sorry po, di ko kayo agad natawagan. Nasa probinsya po ako nang tumawag kayo at mahina po ang signal dito sa Compostela (in Cebu)," he greeted me in a voice a little louder than a whisper. "Well, I have been calling you because I want to write something about who you, your famiy, parents, brothers and sisters, how you started playing basketball, etc. things that have not been written about you," I told him in Tagalog. June Mar then started talking although I hardly hear him, especially because I was lying in my sickbed, suffering from flu by the time he responded to my numerous calls. "I actualy sttarted playing basketball during my elementary school days, "he narrated. "Kaya lang laro-laro lang muna sa mga barangay. Kahit noong high school na ako sa Bato National high School in Toledo City wala pa ring pumapansin sa akin. Six-three na ako noon." "Nag-serious ako sa basketbal noong college na ako. I walked in as a player-to-be sa University of Cebu were I enrolled as a HRM student," the eldest of two sons of Bonifacio and Marites Fajardo said. It was at the UC where he was discovered by scouts from Manila, particularly by Bobby Parks, who was then handling SMB's Asean Basketball League team, and Peter Martin. Still skinny campaigner, he was taken in and played in the ABL in its 2011 season. His agent, lawyer Baldomero Estenzo, recommended him to the SMB management when the ABL team w disbanded in 2012. June Mar admitted that, inspired by compatriot formed "Efren "Bata" exploits in the international billiards scene where he became a world champion and a legend, his interest was focused on cue sport where he confessed he was good. "Medyo magaling na ako noon sa amin sa Compostela at kalapit na bayan. Pero sabi nila ang tangkad ko daw bakit di ako mag-basketball. Mas sisikat daw ako sa basketball at kikia ng malaki kapag natanggap sa PBA. So, yun," he said. "I never dreamt of earning big, kasi simple lang ang buhay sa amin sa probinsya," June Mar related. "On Sundays, I was earning good money selling candles in the church." "On All Saints Day and All Souls Day, malaki talaga nagiging benta ko sa simbahan at sa sementeryo. For three days, nakakabenta ako ng 1,000 candles a day, he said with a chuckle. "Natutuwa kasi ang mga tao sa akin, kasi ang laki-laki ko nagtitinda ako ng kandila kaya bumibili sila sa akin." "But the last few years, hindi na ako nakakapagtinda ng kandila, he said. "Tuloy binibiro ako ng mga suki ko kapag umuuwi ako, lalo ngayon malapit na ng Todos Los Santos, mula daw nang mag-PBA ako nakalimutan ko na ang negosyo ko, he ... he. " "Masayang-masaya ako sa naging buhay ko, "June Mar, who besides crowning himself back-to-back MVPs, is also a Best Player of the Conference honoree three times, quipped. "Blessed talaga ako at nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord. "pati sa mga teammates ko na walang sawang tumutulong sa akin. sa management at sa lahat ng supporters ng team." "Next season, I'll try my best ma-improve ang game ko at makatulong sa team na ma-attain ang Grand Slam na gustong ma-achieve ni Boss RSA (SMB president Ramon S. Ang),? the boy friend of a beauteous Ateneo volleyball player Aerieal Patnongon, also an Ayala Land International Sales, Inc. employee, vowed. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.  |
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