MANILA – Center June Mar Fajardo’s knee is slowly recovering from an injury, but the San Miguel Beermen will not gamble him if ever the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup pushes through in the later part of this year.
The six-time PBA Most Valuable Player awardee was tipped to miss the entire season after going down with a fractured right tibia during an offseason practice last January.
Beermen head coach Leovino Austria said that although the 6-foot-10 Cebuano can now walk on his own, the team still prefers to see him follow the 10 to 12 months recovery time set by specialists.
“Makikita naman natin na ‘yung improvement niya is right on track. But I think next season na siya talaga makakalaro dahil 10-12 months ang binigay sa kanyang rest time bago siya makabalik sa dati niyang health,” said Austria.
Fajardo already started working out his upper body but has yet to receive full rehabilitation and strengthening on his leg.
“Okay naman. Maganda naman ‘yung healing so far. Ngayon ay nakakalakad na ako, kaya sana tuluy-tuloy na,” said Fajardo.
“Sa lower body ay hindi pa ako puwede, pero sa upper nakaka-workout na ako,” he added. “May mga gamit naman ako dito sa bahay. May dumbbells and pang-squat ako. Saktong pang home gym lang talaga.”/PN
