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PBA: Ildefonso recalls mentoring Fajardo during his college days

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines -- The mentorship between San Miguel icon Danny Ildefonso and reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo goes all the way back to the Kraken&#x27;s college days in the University of Cebu (UC).&quot;Lakay&quot; revealed as much during an appearance on the PBA&#x27;s &quot;Kamustahan&quot; podcast, where he remembered giving Fajardo some advice during a tune-up game in Cebu.At the time, Fajardo was still a budding star in UC, a long ways away from becoming the most dominant force in Philippine basketball. Ildefonso, himself a two-time PBA MVP, recalled how Fajardo would receive the ball at the three-point line, and not at the post.&quot;Sabi ko sa kanya, hindi ka yayaman diyan, 6-9 o 6-10 ka eh,&quot; Ildefonso said, as quoted by the league website.[EMBED on &#x27;league website&#x27;: https://pba.ph/news/danny-i-to-kraken-the-shaded-lane-is-where-the-money-is]&quot;Alam mo kung nasaan ang pera? Andoon sa shaded lane,&quot; Ildefonso would tell Fajardo. &quot;P150,000 lang ang sweldo mo dito. Doon, P500,000, maximum.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/football/news/2020/06/22/liverpool-held-everton-resumed-mission-seal-title-68948">READ: Liverpool held by Everton on resumed mission to seal title</a></li></ul>At the tune-up game, which was arranged by another former San Miguel star Dondon Hontiveros, Ildefonso asked the young Fajardo why he played basketball.Fajardo&#x27;s answer was quintessential &quot;Kraken.&quot; &quot;Para matulungan ang pamilya ko, kuya,&quot; he told Ildefonso.&quot;Eh &#x27;yun pala eh,&quot; Ildefonso said. &quot;Doon ka (sa shaded lane). Nandoon ang pera.&quot;Ildefonso continued to mentor Fajardo when he was selected by the Petron Blaze Boosters with the top overall pick in the 2012 PBA Rookie Draft. Ildefonso left the team a year later as a free agent, after 15 years of playing for the San Miguel franchise.Fajardo has gone on to win six consecutive PBA MVP trophies, but up to now he still gives Ildefonso plenty of credit for his development as a basketball player. In a recent appearance on &quot;Extra Rice&quot; with Beau Belga, Fajardo said he considers Ildefonso as his idol, along with another big man Asi Taulava.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>).

The mentorship between San Miguel icon Danny Ildefonso and reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo goes all the way back to the Kraken's college days in the University of Cebu.

The mentorship between San Miguel icon Danny Ildefonso and reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo goes all the way back to the Kraken's college days in the University of Cebu.