Unchanged by success, June Mar Fajardo stays true to self

MANILA, Philippines – It will have been comprehensible if June Mar Fajardo obtained cocky. Even for somewhat bit.

The San Miguel large man, in spite of everything, has earned it.

9 season MVP awards, 10 Legendary First Workforce alternatives, 12 championships, and 13 Finest Participant of the Convention plums, on prime of different notable honors that make up an in depth checklist of his profession achievements, have put Fajardo within the dialog as the best participant in PBA historical past.

And but, the Cebuano stays the identical unassuming man who entered the league in 2012.

“The one factor that’s modified is his hair. I do know for certain he’s in all probability had 15 completely different hairstyles. Apart from that, he’s been the identical light large,” mentioned teammate Marcio Lassiter, who joined the Beermen the identical yr the crew drafted Fajardo because the No. 1 general decide. 

“He’s goofy, he’s humorous. However he’s all the way down to earth. You don’t actually see that. While you’re goofy, you type need the eye. However with him, he can shed the sunshine.”

Fajardo’s arrival breathed new life to a proud franchise that has dominated the league during the last decade.

After going with out a Philippine Cup title for 10 consecutive seasons prior Fajardo’s addition, San Miguel captured an unprecedented 5 straight All-Filipino crowns from 2014 to 2019. No different crew in PBA historical past has received it greater than 3 times.

Throughout the identical span, Fajardo broke the file for many MVP wins, which legends Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio beforehand shared with 4 every, as he already bagged his sixth by the tip of solely his seventh season within the league.

The awards haven’t stopped coming.

Within the not too long ago concluded Philippine Cup, Fajardo claimed a file fifth Finals MVP plum and have become the first-ever recipient of the Ramon Fernandez Trophy as he led the Beermen to a profitable title repeat. 

Profitable a lot can get one stuffed with himself, however not Fajardo.

“I by no means let my accolades and awards get to my head. As a result of whenever you do, there’s a bent to develop into boastful. After I obtain awards, I settle for them, I’m grateful for them, and I preserve them in my coronary heart. I cherish them and I preserve them in my coronary heart, however in my thoughts, I by no means take into consideration having received something,” mentioned Fajardo in Filipino.  

“Each convention, each season, I all the time suppose to myself, ‘I hope I can get my first championship.’ I by no means allow them to get to my head. I don’t wish to be boastful.” 

That blank-slate strategy has allowed Fajardo to keep away from complacency and proceed increasing his recreation whilst he enters the twilight of his profession at 36.

When Fajardo received his most up-to-date MVP final season, he posted profession highs in rebounds (15.1) and assists (3.1). His common of 19.2 factors was additionally his highest because the 2017-2018 season, when he was simply 29 years outdated. 

Fajardo’s mixture of dominance and modesty remind teammate Chris Ross of NBA nice Tim Duncan, whose low-key character marked twenty years of sustained success by the San Antonio Spurs that produced 5 championships. 

“He’s essentially the most unselfish participant that I’ve ever performed with. When somebody like that’s selfless and tremendous unselfish, everybody else has to observe,” mentioned Ross. 

“Me, rising up in San Antonio, Texas, and being a giant Spurs followers, it’s loads of similarities to Tim Duncan, so far as not wanting the highlight, with the ability to be coached, wanting your teammates to succeed. He has loads of qualities that Tim Duncan has.”

“With out him being that manner, we don’t win all these championship as a result of he desires to share the highlight, he desires to share the ball. He’s actually the usual.” 

Realized it from mama and papa

Fajardo factors to his dad and mom for the way in which he’s right now. 

Though their household didn’t have a lot rising up, with Fajardo initially pursuing basketball as a way to get a university scholarship on the College of Cebu, he was wealthy in classes from father Bonifacio and late mom Marites.

“They advised me to remain humble irrespective of how far I’m going in life, to indicate others respect, and to by no means decide and by no means put others down,” Fajardo mentioned. 

“I’m grateful to my dad and mom despite the fact that we have been poor. We got here from poverty, however my dad and mom caught with one another in order that they will increase me and my sibling correctly and self-discipline us the precise manner,” he added. “It actually begins with the household.” 

Fajardo’s upbringing reveals in the way in which he presents himself.

Whereas he has all the cash on the planet to decorate himself with fancy garments, Fajardo wears his personal clothes model, Kraken Attire. 

He additionally drives the identical Toyota FJ Cruiser given to him by San Miguel large boss Ramon S. Ang when he joined the crew 14 years in the past. 

Other than his affinity for gaming, Fajardo mentioned his responsible pleasure is investing within the inventory market, cryptocurrency, and actual property. 

“I’m snug in my very own pores and skin. I don’t wish to slot in with others,” mentioned Fajardo. “While you strive to slot in with different individuals, it feels such as you want their approval. I don’t want anybody’s approval. I’m proud of who I’m.” 

“When there’s no follow, I’m simply chilling at residence, taking part in on-line video games, watching films, consuming on my own with my canine. I’m completely satisfied doing all that. I simply keep in my lane. I don’t compete with anybody else.”

Fajardo by no means forgets the place he got here from. 

Each after convention or season, Fajardo is all the time itching to fly again to Cebu to get much-needed downtime earlier than he plunges again to motion as he additionally serves Gilas Pilipinas. 

“He’s a easy man. He loves the sport, he likes to chill out. He loves fishing and being out on the water. He loves Cebu. You see it in every part that he does,” mentioned former nationwide crew captain Gabe Norwood, who performed with Fajardo within the FIBA World Cup in 2014 and 2019. 

“Some guys don’t fully come into the league and sort of admire all that they’ve and he’s not a type of guys. You possibly can inform he appreciates the chance to exit and play, to be together with his teammates and his mates, and finally, he loves being residence and representing the place he’s from.”

For somebody like Fajardo who in all probability has all of it, longtime San Miguel utility employees Gani Malindog has his fingers crossed that the star lastly meets the love of his life. 

“I hope he finds somebody who will maintain him,” mentioned Malindog. “We’re not getting any youthful.” – Rappler.com