MANILA, Philippines — June Mar Fajardo said Monday that the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers could mark the end of his Gilas Pilipinas career as age and health prompt the 36-year-old center to consider stepping away from the national team.
Fajardo said he had initially planned to retire from Gilas after the third qualifying window last month. Coach Tim Cone previously said Fajardo delivered an emotional speech after the team’s game against Australia and had intended to end his national team career.
The nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player eventually agreed to return for another window, giving him two more games with Gilas before the team faces Jordan on Friday and Iran on Sunday at home.
“Matanda na ako (I’m old),” Fajardo said during a press conference Monday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Fajardo made his Gilas debut in 2013, when the Philippines qualified for the Fiba World Cup after reaching the final of the Fiba Asia Championship on home soil.
He remained a regular member of the national team for the next six years under coaches Chot Reyes, Tab Baldwin and Yeng Guiao before a career-threatening tibia injury in 2020 forced him to step away from basketball.
“I’m just blessed to be able to return to basketball after I broke my tibia,” Fajardo said. “I thought that I wouldn’t be able to return to basketball.”
Fajardo returned to the national team and helped Gilas win the gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, ending the Philippines’ 61-year drought in the event.
“I’m so blessed because I was able to win a gold medal in the Asian Games and was able to play another World Cup after my injury,” he said.
Fajardo said he now sees the upcoming qualifying window as an opportunity to give younger players more responsibility as he considers the next stage of his national team career.