As teammates should, Chris Ross came to the defense of June Mar Fajardo after the latter's uncharacteristic play in Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA Asia Cup opener.
Not a few fans threw jabs at June Mar Fajardo after Gilas Pilipinas’ stunning loss to Chinese Taipei, 87-95, in the FIBA Asia Cup opener last Wednesday, Aug. 6. (Manila time)
That’s because the eight-time PBA Most Valuable Player — fresh off San Miguel’s Season 49 Philippine Cup championship, where he had nursed a calf and hamstring injury — turned in a subpar two-point, two-rebound outing against the Taiwanese.
His Beermen teammate, Chris Ross, came to his defense.
“June isn't the focal point of the offense. Playing in the triangle before, during the Asian Games, the offense is catered around JB (Justin Brownlee),” wrote Ross in a post on X.
[ALSO READ: Tim Cone confident on better Gilas Pilipinas showing vs New Zealand in FIBA Asia Cup 2025]
But that is not all.
Ross also bared that the 6-foot-10 Fajardo did not practice from the start of the All-Filipino conference’s semifinals against Ginebra owing to the injury.
Fajardo only joined Gilas' practice when they arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, just days before the continental meet kicked off.
“Another thing, June has not practiced since game one of the semis [as he tries] to manage his injury. Only if y'all knew what he's doing just to get on court,” he said.
[ALSO READ: June Mar Fajardo, Chris Ross savor 11th PBA title with San Miguel Beermen]
Fajardo will have a chance to bounce back when the Nationals square off with New Zealand Thursday, Aug. 7.
Gametime is at 11 p.m. (Manila time)