Objectively speaking, June Mar Fajardo is old. Many of Fajardo’s peers have taken on smaller roles and at times play more (or less) depending on the opponent. Others have moved on from the PBA entirely (at times not on their own volition), with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League often the next route.
But, that’s not the case for Fajardo.
The Blackwater Bossing could only watch as Fajardo spun his way around their defense, fought for rebounds, and continued to be effective even when he picked up his dribble. A 17-point, 13-rebound, and two-block performance may be solid in itself, but it’s fair to say it also allowed the San Miguel Beermen to get its offense going thanks to the seven other players who scored at least eight points.
Double-doubles have become the norm for Fajardo even after the heavy minutes and injuries that came with the wear and tear, and he continues to be an imposing presence in the paint, especially during the Philippine Cup. It’s not so much brute force anymore as it is smarts because the eight-time PBA MVP knows where to be and how to operate no matter the situation.
Having Fajardo has allowed the Beermen to remain title contenders even as the rest of the roster has had some changes. Roles within SMB have changed as the younger players in CJ Perez and Don Trollano have taken over the reigns from Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter. However, a PBA championship had eluded them for more than a year.
The reasons for this drought (by their lofty standards) have varied from bouts of inconsistency to the timing of some postseason matchups. Fajardo can’t solve all those problems and as he approaches his late 30s, it will be unsustainable to put a lot on his plate. That being said, San Miguel would be better off focusing on building around him instead of simply stockpiling talent. A star like Perez is a solid piece, but adding shooters and lockdown players (preferably 3-and-Ds) would help with their spacing and bring back shades of the Beermen Death 5 (although it will be hard to top that group). SMB has made efforts to adjust, but the lack of titles in recent conferences speaks for itself.
The many articles written about June Mar Fajardo continuing to defy Father Time speak volumes about his longevity and how he remains impactful despite everything he had gone through. However, we’re at the point where he works best with the pieces around him and when things are clicking, the wins will come in bunches.
Right now, having Fajardo is a privilege and with Father Time bound to catch up, it’s best that the Beermen not put Fajardo’s twilight years to waste so that he can head off into the sunset as a champion.
