May 15, 2020

San Miguel tempers expectations despite June Mar now walking on his own

THE long PBA break has given June Mar Fajardo the time he needs to recover from his injury without missing a game yet.

Four months since undergoing surgery for a fractured right tibia, the San Miguel Beer main man is now up and about and could already walk on his own, a far cry from the one who showed up riding a mobility scooter when he personally received his record sixth MVP award during the annual Leo Awards last March 8.

The 6-foot-10 Fajardo has also began working out on his upper body while the league season is on an indefinite break due to the current pandemic.

"OK naman, so far maganda naman `yung healing," he said. "Ngayon nakakalakad na ako, kaya sana tuluy-tuloy na."

Fajardo was supposed to miss the entire season after going down with the injury last January, but was spared of skipping a single game so far following the indefinite suspension of the league's playing calendar owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

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While he has yet to get full rehabilitation and strengthening on his injured leg thru therapy - as rehab clinic and medical facilities have yet to open shop due to the quarantine period - Fajardo has begun working out on his upper core.

"Sa lower body hindi pa ako puwede, pero sa upper nakaka-workout na ako," he said. "May mga gamit naman ako dito sa bahay, may dumbbells and pang-squat ako.

"Saktong pang home gym lang talaga, pangbahay na workout lang."

While Fajardo is now beginning to work on his mobility, San Miguel coach Leo Austria is tempering expectations about chances of the Beermen center suiting up for the team once play resumes in the stalled Philippine Cup.

"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. (RG)

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