Philippines, 14 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Gentle Giant June Mar Fajardo


PhilBoxing.com



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.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Ringside, Still: Remembering Chino Trinidad
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Yanon is PBF flyweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.