JUNE Mar Fajardo and Mo Tautuaa are not yet at 100 percent but that is not a major cause of concern for San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria.
Austria said the team has signed up James Sena and Alfonzo Gotladera and the two are expected not only to help hold the fort in the long run but also aid Fajardo and Tautuaa work their way back to full game-shape.
“May role naman silang gagawin sa team. Para at least kung may mag-foul trouble, gumradweyt,” said Austria.
“Ngayon nga nakakatulong na sila, sa practice pa lang. Lalo na nu’ng wala mga big men namin,” added Austria. “Habang tumatagal nakitaan namin ng potential na malaki maitutulong nila sa support role nila.”
Fajardo is reported to be completely healed physically from the shin fracture that sidelined him all of last season and needs to only get over the lingering trauma of the horrible injury.
“Physically, okay na siya,” said Austria of the six-time MVP. “Psychologically, matagal pa. It will take some more time siguro hanggang sa makalimutan na niya iyon.”
Tautuaa is expected to be completely recovered from the neck injury that sidelined him from the national 3×3 squad’s last two games in last month’s OQT in Austria.
“After a week pa, Mo will be back to his usual form,” said Austria of his top player in last year’s Philippine Cup bubble, who started joining SMB’s practices in Lipa City last week along with 3×3 teammate CJ Perez.
Before the arrival of Sena and Gotladera and while Fajardo could not yet join SMB’s full-contact practices, the Beermen had to make do with assistant coach Peter Martin manning the middle while they run their plays.
Martin, the former San Sebastian star best remembered for scoring the first basket in the short-lived MBA, continued that substitute role when Tautuaa went off for the 3×3 training.
“Before naglalaro si Peter sa practice kasi si June Mar hindi naman sumasali sa limahan.
Individual workout lang siya, agility lang. So si Peter ang lumalagay sa gitna. Ganoon pa din nu’ng wala si Mo,” related Austria.
“Now with Sena and Gotladera, meron ng talagang legitimate na kabanggaan sa practice sina June Mar at Mo.”
