Fajardo excited to join SMB

MANILA, Philippines — After dominating Cebu basketball for years, June Mar Fajardo is set to bring his act to a higher level when he plays for San Miguel Beer in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League Season 3, set to open in January next year.

Though San Miguel is a first timer in the regional league, the 6-foot-10 Fajardo is relishing the idea of playing in the team which has a rich winning tradition in the PBA.

"May pressure din kasi first time ko sa big league," said Fajardo during yesterday's PSA Forum at Shakey's UN Avenue.

A native of Pinangumahan, Cebu, the 22-year-old dominated the last three seasons of the CESAFI. He guided University of Cebu to the finals in all of those years, winning back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.

In those years, Fajardo's major rival was Greg Slaughter but when the latter decided to transfer to Ateneo from University of the Visayas, he became the face of the region.

In the ABL, he will be up against equally taller and rugged players, with some probably boasting superior talents.

"Nasanay kasi ako sa Cebu na maliliit ang mga kalaban namin pero dito (sa ABL) iba na ang level ng competition," said Fajardo.

Fajardo is one of many faces in the San Miguel roster. He'll be joined by Fil-Am Chris Banchero, a 6-foot-4 son of a mother from Isabela and an Italian father who grew up in Seattle, Washington.

"We will be a fun team to watch. We will play up and down and focus on defense," said Banchero, who was oonce eyed for a spot on the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas roster.

Defense will indeed be the main focus of Beermen coach Bobby Parks, who will have a mix of young talents like Fajardo and Banchero and seasoned veterans.

"For us to make it to the championship, we have to play defense," said Parks. "We can relax on offense on given nights but we should never rest on defense."

Also in the SMB roster are Froilan Baguion, who led the Chang Thailand Slammers to last season's title, former Mapua star Kelvin dela Pena, former Philippine Patriots cagers Benedict Fernandez and Junjun Cabatu and ex-pros Norman Gonzales and Neil Raneses.

The rest of the squad includes RJ Rizada, Christian Luanzon, Hafer Mondragon and recently-graduated collegiate players Jan Colina of Adamson and Allan Mangahas of Mapua.

San Miguel will parade former PBA imports Richard Jeter, who stands at 6-foot-4, and 6-foot-9 big man Dalron Johnson.

source by Jonas Terrado mb.com.ph

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