Gilas Pilipinas is getting a major boost as June Mar Fajardo officially joins the national team for its FIBA Asia Cup campaign in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from August 5 to 17.
The confirmation came from head coach Tim Cone, who said the San Miguel big man will reunite with the squad once they arrive in the Middle East. The team is set to depart Wednesday night, with practice scheduled to begin immediately upon arrival in Jeddah.
“June Mar is expected to start practicing when we land. We begin right away, so he’ll be with us starting July 31,” said Cone.
Fajardo, an eight-time PBA MVP, missed the earlier Gilas training camp to recover from a taxing Philippine Cup Finals series against TNT—a title run that saw the 6-foot-10 center battle through a calf injury. His return marks a significant moment, as he’s poised to make his first appearance with the team in a tune-up game against Jordan on August 2.
While Fajardo is no stranger to the Gilas program, Cone emphasized that reintegrating him into the current system requires adjustment.
“We have to learn how the team functions when he’s on the floor,” Cone noted. “It’s going to be a different dynamic with June Mar out there. The only concern is the limited practice time we’ll have with him.”
Despite those concerns, there’s no denying the impact the Cebuano giant brings to the floor.
“He changes the game for us,” Cone added. “We have to play a different style when he’s on the court. That’s how big his presence is.”
With the Asia Cup looming, Gilas fans can look forward to seeing one of the country’s most dominant players anchoring the paint once again—this time, on the international stage.