June Mar Fajardo’s international career ended where it began—at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in front of the fans who watched him grow from a promising young center into the most decorated player in PBA history. Thirteen years and 70 FIBA appearances later, that circle finally closed on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Cebuano played his final game for Gilas Pilipinas in a 68-56 win over Iran, capping the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. There was no jersey retirement, no elaborate ceremony as Fajardo had made clear he wanted a quiet exit, and Gilas obliged. Instead, he was simply handed the game ball during a huddle at center court, while the home crowd broke into chants of “MVP” as he waved goodbye. He played just seven minutes in that final appearance, finishing with 6 points and 2 rebounds, numbers that mattered far less than the moment itself. Though, it should be noted that those seven minutes were impactful to a cerain degree.
A Decision Years in the Making for June Mar Fajardo
June Mar Fajardo’s retirement didn’t arrive suddenly. He’d actually planned to step away after Window 3 back in July, following a lopsided 92-49 loss to Australia in Perth. According to national team coach Tim Cone, Fajardo gave a lengthy, emotional speech to his teammates in the locker room after that game, laying out his intention to walk away from the national team. It was, according to Cone, strikingly similar to what longtime teammate Japeth Aguilar had done a year earlier.
Cone wasn’t ready to let him go just yet, though. Together with San Miguel Corporation sports director and Gilas Pilipinas team manager Alfrancis Chua, he appealed directly to Fajardo to delay his retirement and suit up for one more window, particularly with star big man Kai Sotto still uncommitted to the national team at the time. Fajardo agreed, giving Gilas his services for what turned into a must-win stretch of World Cup qualifying.
Reflecting on the decision to come back for one final run, June Mar Fajardo didn’t hide his gratitude. He had once feared his career was over entirely after suffering a career-threatening right tibia fracture back in 2020. “I just feel so blessed that I was able to come back,” he said.
A Career Built From 2013 Onward
Fajardo’s Gilas story began at the very same venue where it ended, making his national team debut during the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship for Men at the Mall of Asia Arena. From there, he became one of only two Filipino players—alongside close friend Aguilar—to represent the Philippines across three separate FIBA World Cup editions, playing in 2014 in Spain, 2019 in China, and 2023 on home soil in the Philippines.
Beyond the World Cups, Fajardo suited up for the national team in four FIBA Asia Cups, two FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, two Asian Games, and two Southeast Asian Games over the course of his tenure. The 2023 Asian Games stands out as arguably the sweetest moment of that entire run, with Fajardo playing a central role in ending the Philippines’ 61-year wait for a men’s basketball gold medal.
June Mar Fajardo’s path to Sunday’s finale wasn’t without its physical toll. The big man suffered a hyperextended right elbow against Australia during the third qualifying window in Perth, an injury serious enough to also sideline him to start the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The End of the June Mar Fajardo Era
Fajardo’s exit follows Aguilar’s own retirement from the national team last December, closing out what’s been called the “Puso” era of Gilas Pilipinas—a period defined by the heart and resilience of the veteran core that helped rebuild the program’s international relevance.
With June Mar Fajardo ending his run, no one from that era is around anymore, meaning the responsibility of carrying Gilas Pilipinas shifts fully to a younger generation. Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Mike Phillips are expected to anchor the frontline moving forward, while Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, and Juan Gomez de Liaño figure to take on larger roles as Gilas Pilipinas moves into its next chapter without the nine-time PBA MVP for the first time in over a decade.
