Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is full of confidence as his wards step on the court to take on New Zealand in the week’s upcoming second window of the 2025 Asia Cup qualifiers. The basis for this optimism is the back of June Mar Fajardo, a mainstay of Philippine basketball and PBA record eight-time MVP.
With the NATIONAL TEAM now aiming at getting its first triumph against New Zealand in FIBA, Fajardo’s return will play a crucial role in the improvement of Gilas Pilipinas in offense as well as defense.
Gilas Pilipinas Official 15-man roster:
— Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (@brgyginebraphl) November 11, 2024
JAPETH AGUILAR
MASON AMOS
JUSTIN BROWNLEE
AJ EDU
JUNE MAR FAJARDO
ANGE KOUAME
JAMIE MALONZO
CHRIS NEWSOME
CALVIN OFTANA
CJ PEREZ
KEVIN QUIAMBAO
DWIGHT RAMOS
KAI SOTTO
CARL TAMAYO
SCOTTIE THOMPSON
📷 SBP pic.twitter.com/PfZ9HZcVvi
June Mar Fajardo failed to make it to the roster of the 2025 Asia Cup qualifiers' first window because of a calf strain to left the national team lacking one of its most prolific inside players. The recent absence of Blatche proved how much he is valuable to San Miguel Beermen in PBA and Gilas Pilipinas in the international competition.
Head coach Tim Cone did not hold back in praising Fajardo’s influence:
“He was a dominant player in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia, and we are expecting him to be a dominant player again this window. He is our mainstay and one of our big go-to guys” Cone said.
Every team needs one go-to guy who can control the paint, make proper passes for teammates, and of course, block/contest shots from top-caliber big men and Fajardo proves to be that player. In the Olympic Qualifying Tournament this year he scored 9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game that was against strong opponents such as Latvia, Montenegro, and Brazil. This prepared him for the ultimate competition especially when he was performing well against these higher-ranked nations.
It also means the return of “Twin Towers” for the Gilas team with Fajardo set to share the court once again with Sotto. The inclusion of the 6’10” mainstay in the team and the 7’3” prospect modify the versatility of the Gilas Pilipinas ’formation. The combination of both has caused a lot of buzz, by and large, mechanisms as both participants exist equally on the court.
Tim Cone emphasized the importance of their budding chemistry:
“The nice thing is that Kai and June Mar are developing a chemistry where they can play together. It’s unusual to get two 5-men and allow them to play together.”
This partnership will especially be important in dealing with New Zealand’s strength and size. Gilas has been trounced by the Tall Blacks in their past FIBA contests, including all four games played since the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. But now that Fajardo is enlisted and Sotto, Gilas Pilipinas may have the weapons that it needs to pull through.
New Zealand is disciplined, well-grounded, has good basics, and will have size on the Filipinos which has proven to be a problem for Filipino players in the past. In previous games, Coach Chot Reyes and his charges failed to sustain the physicality and the depth the Tall Blacks had shown.
However, Cone believes this time could be different:
“New Zealand has beaten us pretty badly when we played them. But I feel there is a sense that we could beat them this time around.”
Now with Fajardo back in the fold and the support cast of Kai Sotto, Scottie Thompson, and the others, the team has the personnel to really make a run. The next predicted game is scheduled on Thursday, November 21, in the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and this will be the golden chance to make history for the Gilas.
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The return of June Mar Fajardo is a source of new hope for Filipino basketball enthusiasts. He has the experience and skill set that need to be coupled with leadership as Gilas battles their stiffest competition yet. Assisted by Filipino basketball followers and the master tactician Tim Cone, Gilas Pilipinas is ready to take its stand on the Asia Cup qualifiers.
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