June Mar Fajardo’s retirement from international basketball is definitely one of the most memorable eras in Philippine Sports. Despite his 13-year stint and a career of 70 games for the national team, the JRDC Superstar has definitely left a national-team footprint, but also one of consistency, respect, and a total dedication to the country, Gilas Pilipinas.
Fajardo, popularly called “Abai,” was the type of backup big man who was a delight to manage, and eventually became one of the most reliable foreign players in the Philippines. His retirement caps the end of the era that’s so often called the “Puso” of the team.
2013: The Beginning of the Gilas Journey
Fajardo made his debut appearance for the national team at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila. He played second-first to Marcus Douthit and Japeth Aguilar first but ended up with a silver medal finish.
It was a historic feat as it enabled the Philippines to qualify to the FIBA World Cup 2014 for the first time after 36 years had disappeared from the largest worldwide basketball competition.
2014: Making His Mark at the World Cup
Fajardo proved his ability to beat top international foes at the 2014 World Cup in Spain. The highlight of his career was against Senegal in the Philippines where he scored 15 points and grabbed nine points in overtime.
The play showed he was a legitimate international center of excellence and that he could be a viable, homegrown big man who could fight hard on the floor.
2019: Experience and SEA Games Glory
It has been another transitional period for Gilas Pilipinas as Fajardo is back for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China. Also that year, he was instrumental in establishing the national team in the forefront during the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila.
For this, he played at home and took his first SEA Games basketball gold medal and got another feather in his international résumé.
2023: Asian Games Gold
Hangzhou 2023 is one of the most exciting moments of the Fajardo national team career. In Tim Cone’s era he was also a major factor at the back of the Philippines to fight for a historic gold medal.
A 65-year wait finally came to an end for the Philippines, as Gilas finally won the men’s basketball gold medal. Playing defense, establishing a frame of play, and hitting the boards effectively were all an important part of Fajardo’s team’s success.
2026: A Full-Circle Farewell
Fajardo retired from playing in the Gilas on 20th August 2026 following the Philippines’ defeat over Iran 68–56 in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The venue and the opponent were an appropriate end to the installation since the International start came in 2013. He was handed the match ball at the center of the court as he farewells his teammates, in a touching ceremony after the match.
Legacy Bigger Than Nine PBA MVP Awards
Although Fajardo will have accumulated his ninth PBA MVP Award as a retired player, his national team accolade will be more than just domain records. He was always willing to be available for more than 10 years despite his busy work and physical setbacks.
He also brought a paradigm shift to the image of the Philippines center. Positioning, screening, footwork and body discipline proved him to be one of the best players on a smaller sized team against bigger foreign players, while he was a local big man.
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Passing the Torch to the Next Generation
As his Gilas career ended, Fajardo began taking on a high-traffic, mentoring role. His stint made some swappers like Quentin Millora-Brown, AJ Edu, Kai Sotto and Carl Tamayo more smoother.
This could be one of the legacy he left the next generation of centers in the Philippines first, what he achieved for himself, but more important, the foundation he helped pave for subsequent generation centers.
FAQs
What year was June Mar Fajardo’s last year for the Gilas Pilipinas?
June Mar Fajardo retired from Gilas Pilipinas on August 30, 2026 after the team played a win against Iran.
For how many years did Fajardo serve in Gilas Pilipinas?
He has been on the 13-year-old national team and in 70 international games with FIBA.
What was his biggest international achievement?
His biggest success was working with the Philippine team to get them the Asian Games gold, their first in 65 years, in the men’s basketball competition at the 2023 Asian Games.
