June Mar Fajardo, fresh off San Miguel's PBA Philippine Cup title run, was granted time to recover before Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign.
June Mar Fajardo was in street clothes when he showed up in Gilas Pilipinas’ send-off match against the Macau Black Bears at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Monday, July 28.
The Nationals went on to beat Macau, 103-98, without the 6-foot-10 behemoth.
Fajardo was given the luxury of rest after his San Miguel squad's six-game conquest of TNT in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals, which also saw him play through an injured calf.
[ALSO READ: June Mar Fajardo reignites ultimate PBA dream: winning a Grand Slam with San Miguel Beer]
Gilas head coach Tim Cone said Fajardo will only start practicing when the Philippine contingent arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the FIBA Asia Cup.
“We expect him to start practicing when we land in Jeddah. We expect him to start practicing when we arrive on the evening of the 31st over there," said Cone.
[ALSO READ: How Gilas Pilipinas have fared in the FIBA Asia Cup from 2011 to 2022]
Kai Sotto is also not travelling to Jeddah owing to his ACL injury.
That's why the remaining practice and friendly against Jordan in August will prove to be all the more crucial for Fajardo and the rest of the Filipino dribblers, added Cone.
“We expect him to play in our friendly against Jordan. He changes the game for us. We have to play a different way with June Mar on the floor,” said Cone.
“That’s the only concern: we haven’t had much practice time with him. He’s such an impact that you have to kind of play differently when he’s on the floor. So we had to learn that difference when he’s on the floor.”
[RELATED STORY: SCHEDULE, RESULTS | Gilas Pilipinas compete at 2025 FIBA Asia Cup]
Gilas is bracketed with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and Iraq in the continental meet which starts August 5.
“We’ll see what’s going on. Hopefully, he’ll be ready on the 31st,” said the winningest PBA mentor.