June Mar Fajardo’s long Gilas journey could end at 70 FIBA games

A possible farewell on the horizon

June Mar Fajardo may be nearing the end of his Gilas Pilipinas career, but head coach Tim Cone is not ready to say goodbye just yet.

Fajardo signaled his intentions last month after Gilas suffered a heavy 92-49 loss to Australia in July during the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers third window in Perth. According to Cone, the veteran center addressed the team in the locker room.

"After the last window, after the Australia game, he gave a long speech in the locker room about how he was going to retire from Gilas similar to what Japeth did previously the year before," Cone said during a recent press conference at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

"I was happy for him, and players were slapping him on the shoulders, thanking him, and everything," the coach added. "But I was thinking at the same time, he ain't retiring; I'm not gonna let him retire."

Cone's stance is rooted in the immediate challenge ahead: Gilas faces Jordan and Iran in the upcoming fourth window of the qualifiers, games that call for a different kind of inside presence.

"When this happened, and especially before we knew Kai is coming in, we made it clear to June Mar that we really needed him at this level when we are playing true Asian teams, Middle Eastern teams," Cone explained. "We're not playing Oceania teams. We feel June Mar can make a bigger impact."

A career of milestones

Fajardo, a 6-foot-10 center from Cebu and a nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player, has been a fixture in the national program for more than a decade. He made his senior team debut at the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup and has gone on to represent the Philippines in three FIBA World Cups.

Should he play in both games of the approaching window, he will reach 70 FIBA appearances for the country—a milestone that, as reported by Tiebreaker Times, could also mark the end of his Gilas career.

The upcoming window has already taken on the atmosphere of a farewell. Beyond his leadership and scoring, the center has also drawn praise for his consistent presence despite his demanding schedule with San Miguel Beer in the PBA.

"He's been playing for a long time, played a lot of minutes with San Miguel. He's beat up, but he's coming in to join us and give his best," Cone noted, saying the coaching staff is appreciative of Fajardo's "extra effort" for the national team.

Teammates weigh in

CJ Perez, who played alongside Fajardo at the 2019 and 2023 FIBA World Cups, honored his teammate's commitment, expressing admiration for the sacrifices Fajardo has made despite injuries.

Newcomer Justin Arana, in the national team pool for the first time, said he looks up to Fajardo. "He's been a huge influence," Arana was quoted as saying. Dwight Ramos echoed that sentiment, pointing to Fajardo and the older generation of players for their years of service to Gilas, and said the younger players are ready to take the torch.

Juan Gomez De Liaño added that he and his contemporaries were inspired by the path Fajardo and the older generation paved, and that they will continue the tradition of playing hard for the country.

Team manager Alfrancis Chua, for his part, has personally pleaded with Fajardo to return for this window, according to Tiebreaker.

The wider impact

The decision looms large not just for Fajardo's career but for the Greek program in general. As Japeth Aguilar stepped from the national team last December, Fajardo became the last active bridge to a generation of players who carried Philippine basketball through the so-called "Puso" era to the present. His possible exit leaves a gap in terms of both experience and inside scoring.

Whether Fajardo goes through with his retirement remains unconfirmed, but both his coach and his teammates seem to want one more run. For now, the focus turns to the Asian qualifiers, where Fajardo, if available, could help give Gilas the edge in what are expected to be tough matches against Jordan and Iran.

While the future of Fajardo's international career remains uncertain, his place in Philippine basketball history is already secure. The window ahead brings both a test and an opportunity—and perhaps the perfect send-off for a player whose legacy spans nearly 70 games.