June Mar Fajardo missed most of the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup due to a grade 3 MCL sprain he suffered while the San Miguel Beermen were playing the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the East Asia Super League Champions Week last March in Japan.
It was a huge blow not only for the Beermen, but also for Gilas Pilipinas, who competed in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games without its premier big man. Fortunately, the national team got the job done of reclaiming gold in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
That said, Gilas will still need the six-time PBA MVP in tip-top shape as the preparations for the FIBA World Cup kick into high gear. Fajardo remains a valuable national team piece as the opposition in the global hoops summit are simply bigger and stronger.
On Tuesday, the 6-foot-10 center went on Instagram and posted how he has been coping with his knee injury.
At the Transcend Performance Therapy Clinic in Quezon City, Abai was spotted doing light drills, which tested his knee’s capacity to withstand pressure.
Slowly but surely, the pride of Compostela, Cebu is getting his bearings back. As his post said, it’s still a work in progress. But as long as he is on the right track, full recovery will soon be attained.
Looking at his IG Story, Fajardo seemed to be enjoying his workout. It could be an indicator of where he’s exactly at as he continues to do his rehab.
The 2023 staging of FIBA’s flagship event will commence on August 25. Gilas will resume its training on June 7.
The hope now is that some point in between, Fajardo will be able to rejoin the Philippine squad.
(GM)