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FIBA: 5 years on, a more confident Fajardo steps into the world stage

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/08/28/20190825-gilas-basketball-tuneup-2828-md.jpg"/><figcaption>June Mar Fajardo goes for a lay-up in Gilas Pilipinas&#x27; tune-up game against the Adelaide 36ers. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- When June Mar Fajardo suited up for the Philippines in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, he was fresh off his first ever season as the PBA&#x27;s Most Valuable Player.Only 24 years old at the time, Fajardo was quiet for the first four games of Gilas Pilipinas&#x27; campaign, playing just limited minutes for Chot Reyes. Instead, the bulk of the attention was on Andray Blatche, who was playing for the Philippines for the first time, and the country&#x27;s guards.It was only in their final game against Senegal that Fajardo played to his potential. Given playing time -- 32 minutes of it -- Fajardo put up 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, along with 9 rebounds. It was his lay-up with 1:35 left in overtime that knotted the game at 71, and he later sunk two free throws to keep Gilas ahead.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6cD36kglSyE?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>It was his breakout performance on the world stage, a much awaited performance for the San Miguel big man who had long been expected to be a pillar of the national team. Fajardo averaged only 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in the 2014 World Cup, well below his PBA numbers, but his performance against Senegal was a sign of things to come for the &quot;Kraken.&quot;Fajardo would dominate the PBA in the coming years, winning five straight MVP awards. Now, he is back on the world stage as a member of the Philippine team for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.He knows it will be different this time around. Fajardo is older, more experienced, and a veteran of the international game after several stints with Gilas Pilipinas. He also knows that he will no longer catch opposing big men off guard. They know of him now and are aware of what he brings to the table.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/gilas/news/2019/08/28/fiba-gilas-lookout-automatic-olympic-slot-60354">READ: Gilas Pilipinas on the lookout for automatic Olympic slot</a></li></ul>But the Fajardo that will step onto the court in Foshan is also different from the 24-year-old who struggled to get minutes in Seville.&quot;Basta, tiwala lang sa sarili,&quot; said Fajardo, who acknowledged that pressure is on him but refuses to dwell on it. &quot;Tiwala lang sa teammates mo, tiwala lang kila coach.&quot;&quot;Tiwala lang sa team na maa-achieve natin &#x27;yung goal natin. Kailangan natin i-boost &#x27;yung sarili natin, kasi nga kung &#x27;di tayo magtitiwala sa sarili natin, sino pa ang magtitiwala sa atin, &#x27;di ba?&quot; he pointed out.&quot;So magsisimula &#x27;yan sa sarili natin. So bibigay natin &#x27;yung best natin.&quot;As much as Fajardo has improved, he knows he will still be the underdog against the big men he plays against. The Philippines had been grouped with Serbia, Italy, and Angola in the first phase of the World Cup, meaning Fajardo will be up against centers who play in the NBA -- such as Nikola Jokic -- and the Euroleague.&quot;Sobrang challenging &#x27;yun para sa akin kasi nga ang lalaki na ng mga kalaban ko doon, mga 7-footer na &#x27;yun eh,&quot; Fajardo noted. &quot;So ayun, &#x27;yun nga, wala namang mawawala sa akin pero marami akong mage-gain na experience doon pag nakalaban ko sila. Pero ayun, gagawin ko talaga &#x27;yung best ko, ibibigay ko &#x27;yung best ko para makapag-contribute ako sa team,&quot; he added.It&#x27;s not just Fajardo who has become more confident. He pointed out that the whole Gilas team is upbeat heading into the competition, especially as they have players who are making their second World Cup appearance.&quot;Siguro medyo tumaas siguro &#x27;yung kumpyansa natin kasi pangalawang World Cup na natin to, sunod-sunod. So, ayun, may experience na tayo sa World Cup,&quot; he said.Aside from Fajardo, Andray Blatche, Gabe Norwood, Paul Lee, and Japeth Aguilar are also participating in their second straight World Cup.&quot;Still, hindi pa rin ganoon kadali &#x27;yung magiging games natin doon. Pero &#x27;yun nga, bibigay natin &#x27;yung best natin doon. Nothing to lose naman tayo doon eh, pero everything to gain, &#x27;di ba?&quot; said Fajardo. &quot;So, gagawin natin lahat. Walang imposible naman eh, basta paghandaan lang natin ng husto. And then, &#x27;yun, teamwork lang, then sundin lang &#x27;yung sistema.&quot;Fajardo and the rest of Gilas Pilipinas will arrive in Foshan on Thursday. They play their first game on Saturday, August 31, against Italy.<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>. </div>

The Fajardo that will step onto the court in Foshan is also different from the 24-year-old who struggled to get minutes in Seville.

The Fajardo that will step onto the court in Foshan is also different from the 24-year-old who struggled to get minutes in Seville.

FIBA: 5 years on, a more confident Fajardo steps into the world stage

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FIBA: 5 years on, a more confident Fajardo steps into the world stage

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 29, 2019 02:02 PM PHT

Read More:

FIBA

FIBA World Cup

Gilas Pilipinas

basketball

June Mar Fajardi

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