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'Injuries do happen, and I just wish people would be more supportive towards June Mar with his injuries, and all the other guys who can’t make it,' says Asi Taulava
MANILA, Philippines – It’s no secret that the pool of the Philippine national basketball team isn’t as talented as it could be with reigning two-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo unable to practice as he recuperates from plantar fasciitis issues in both feet.
But despite Fajardo’s injury, which he suffered during the latest PBA season, hasn’t stopped some netizens from castigating him on social media for most likely being unavailable for Gilas in the upcoming 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.
One of Fajardo’s back up local bigs, 42-year-old Asi Taulava, is upset with some of the criticism the 25-year-old Fajardo has received.
“Injuries do happen and stuff like that, and I just wish people would be more supportive towards June Mar with his injuries and all the other guys who can’t make it,” Taulava told Rappler during Gilas practice at the Meralco Gym last week.
“Things like that happen throughout the league; any league in the world. It’s just unlucky for us that guys will be missing this time around,” he added.
Fajardo is one of the two guys Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin requested for his Gilas pool from the PBA that currently isn’t practicing. The other one – LA Tenorio – has already
begged off from national team work as he hopes to rest after non-stop playing in international competition over the past few years.
“I just feel bad,” said Taulava. “I don’t want people to make that feel-good tweet, saying, ‘Hey, thank you for representing the country. These guys, they have no heart.’ People just got to understand the injuries and the type of injury that June Mar has, and the other guys.”
With the 6-foot-11 Fajardo absent, Taulava, Alaska big man Sonny Thoss, and naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche will have to carry the load at the center position.
Former NU Bulldog Troy Rosario and reigning PBA D-League MVP Moala Tautuaa are also practicing with the team.
“June Mar feels he doesn’t want to hurt the team. Somebody else can sub in for him then while he recovers,” Taulava said.
“Let’s just be supportive. No need to bash guys to try to make another guy look good,” he added.
When asked if the players’ decision to participate in Gilas isn’t just theirs to make because of commitments to their PBA teams, Taulava said, “Whatever it is, it’s beyond our control.”
“I just want guys to be supportive of [Fajardo]. You know, the guy said he’s injured,” said Taulava, who was PBA MVP in 2003.
“You’ve got to give him a chance to recover. If he’s hurting, he knows his body better than us, so just support him until he gets healthy and he comes back.” – Rappler.com
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