I remember the first time I saw June Mar Fajardo step onto the PBA court back in 2012. Honestly, I had my doubts like many others - this towering 6'10" center from Cebu seemed almost too gentle for the physicality of professional basketball. But watching him develop over the years has been one of the most fascinating journeys in Philippine sports. His career trajectory reminds me of that 18-year-old sensation we recently saw who stole the show, sweeping all of his three matches for the day in an impressive performance to somehow silence his doubters. That's essentially been Fajardo's entire career - consistently proving people wrong through sheer dominance.
When we look at Fajardo's numbers, they're nothing short of legendary. Through his first 11 seasons with the San Miguel Beermen, he's averaged around 17.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. Those aren't just good numbers - they're historically significant. What many casual fans might not realize is how his field goal percentage has consistently hovered around 55%, which is absolutely remarkable for a big man who faces constant double-teams and defensive schemes designed specifically to stop him. I've always been particularly impressed by his rebounding numbers because they demonstrate something beyond physical gifts - they show incredible positioning and basketball IQ.
The championship pedigree is what truly sets Fajardo apart in my view. He's led San Miguel to nine PBA championships, including an incredible five-peat in the Philippine Cup from 2014 to 2019. That's a level of sustained excellence we may never see again in our lifetime. I've had the privilege of covering many of those championship runs, and what struck me most was how he elevated his game when it mattered most. His playoff statistics typically see a noticeable jump - his scoring often increases to around 19.5 points per game while maintaining similar rebounding numbers. That ability to perform under pressure separates good players from all-time greats.
What fascinates me about Fajardo's development is how he transformed from a raw talent into the most complete big man in PBA history. Early in his career, critics pointed to his limited offensive repertoire and questioned whether he could develop beyond being just a rebounder and shot-blocker. Boy, were they wrong. He methodically added elements to his game each offseason - developing a reliable jump hook, improving his free throw shooting to nearly 72%, and even expanding his range to about 15 feet. I've spoken with several of his former coaches who all mention the same thing - his work ethic is almost unnatural for someone of his stature and accomplishments.
The MVP awards tell their own story - six regular season MVP trophies, with four coming consecutively from 2015 to 2019. That's a level of dominance that even the greats like Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio never achieved. Personally, I believe his 2018-2019 season might be the single greatest individual campaign in PBA history. He put up 19.3 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 57% from the field. The advanced metrics are even more impressive - his player efficiency rating during that stretch was approximately 28.7, which is just astronomical.
Injuries have been the only thing that's briefly slowed Fajardo's march toward basketball immortality. That tibia fracture in 2020 had many wondering if we'd ever see the same player again. I'll admit I was among those concerned. But true to form, he worked his way back and returned perhaps even more determined. Last season, he still managed to average 16.8 points and 12.1 rebounds despite not being at 100% physically. That resilience is something I don't think gets appreciated enough when we discuss his legacy.
When we talk about PBA greats, Fajardo's name belongs in that rarefied air with the absolute best to ever play the game. His combination of size, skill, and basketball intelligence is something we might not see again for generations. The way he's adapted his game as he's aged shows a deep understanding of basketball that goes beyond physical gifts. From my perspective covering the league for over two decades, what makes Fajardo special isn't just the statistics or the championships - it's how he's made the extraordinary look routine. Night after night, season after season, he delivers excellence with a quiet consistency that we've perhaps taken for granted. Future historians looking back at this era of PBA basketball will undoubtedly point to Fajardo as the defining player of his generation, and frankly, they'd be absolutely right to do so.