BEERMEN Loses JUNE MAR FAJARDO to INJURY Ahead of 2020 SEASON

The sports injury has been the bane of existence for serious competitive athletes on both the academic collegiate level right up to the professional big leagues. One needs only to look back at the 2019 PBA Governor’s Cup Finals, where the injuries to Raymond Almazan hobbled the performance of finalist team the Meralco Bolts until they were beaten at Game 5 by the Barangay Ginebra. Now, the same misfortune has befallen a top player for the San Miguel Beermen, winners of the other two Conferences for the 2019 PBA season. The Beermen could be looking at a Philippine Cup this 2020 without June Mar Fajardo.

CNN Philippines reports that June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen has incurred an injury during practice and has been advised to the bench for an indefinite period of time for recovery. The Beermen issued an official statement on Wednesday, February 5, relating that Fajardo landed badly on his right leg during practice Monday this week, February 3, resulting in a complete fracture in his right tibia. The team went on to relate that June Mar has already undergone surgery for his injury on February 4 and is now on his way to recovery.

Unfortunately that means Fajardo will be spending most if not all of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup, the first conference of the season, unable to play for his team as he recovers. While San Miguel is putting up a brave face at this roster setback, going so far as to reveal that the team management will ensure only the best medical care and wishing June Mar well, the fact remains that he will be sorely missed on the hard court. Without imports for this conference, PBA teams will have to rely on all their homegrown talent for the coming games.

The sidelining of June Mar Fajardo due to his injury will also dramatically hurt his chances for becoming the league MVP this season, a grand misfortune seeing as being able to gain the honor again will set a PBA record for MVP awards. Without their star center, the San Miguel Beermen will have to rely on their backups Billy Mamaril and Mo Tautuua. The 2020 Philippine Cup will start on the first of March, 2020.

Image from ABS-CBN News