PBA bigs says future is bright with Kai Sotto, other young guns around

A number of PBA big men all agreed that NBA G League bound Kai Sotto is among the future stars of Philippine basketball.

In an online talk, Marc Pingris, Asi Taulava, Poy Erram, June Mar Fajardo and Beau Belga, who all became part of the Philippine national team talked, about the upcoming stars who will take their place.

"For sure si Kai nandu'n," said San Miguel Beer star Fajardo. "Sobrang ganda ng training ni Kai ngayon, baka ako pa turuan nu'n."

Sotto, who recently announced he'll be joining the G League, has been part of Batang Gilas juniors team.

The 7-foot-2 center has shown vast potential that even former Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao listed him as part of the men's national pool in the run-up to the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Besides Sotto, Taulava said Thirdy Ravena could be a future centerpiece, too, of Gilas.

"I think they're going to be the one or two who's going to be carrying the team," said Taulava.

Erram added: "Siyempre sila CJ Perez, hindi lang naman sa big man pero sa mga guards din. We stick to those guys (din) like sila CJ, sila Thirdy, sila (Robert) Bolick, sila Kiefer (Ravena)."

Meanwhile, Belga said Isaac Go could be an "enforcer" just like him.

"Excited ako sa kanya kasi nakasama ko siya sa Mighty (Sports). Naging roommate kami and nakita ko 'yung work ethic ng bata. Medyo aggressive siya para sa edad niya," Belga said.

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June Mar willing to return to Gilas

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer’s big man June Mar Fajardo is very much willing to serve the country once again if he gets the call to re-join Gilas Pilipinas for the coming 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

Fajardo was one of Gilas Pilipinas’ vital cogs during the Philippines second-place finish in the 2013 edition of the Asian tournament and there’s a big possibility that he would get summoned again when the country competes in China this September.

“Why not? Kasi Gilas 'yun eh, para sa bayan 'yun eh,” the amiable Cebuano said during San Migue Beer’s victory party on Wednesday. “Kung kukunin ako at papayagan ako ng San Miguel, why not?”

Aside from joining Gilas in the FIBA Asia tilt, Fajardo also played with the nationals in the FIBA Worlds and the Asian Games.

He said the Gilas experience taught him well when it comes to using his size and skills against taller foreign players.

“[‘Yung] international experience, nagagamit ko sa PBA eh. Kasi sa international competitions, malaki ang mga nakakaharap ko,” said Fajardo. “’Pag dating sa PBA hindi na gaanong malaki kaya yung kumpyansa mo tumataas.”

But for now, he said his main focus is to do well in the foreign-flavored PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Fajardo said they will be playing against imports this time and will have to win more games to realize San Miguel’s Grand Slam dreams.

The Beermen have already pocketed the Philippine Cup crown and will still need to win the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup to duplicate San Miguel’s 1989 Grand Slam.

“Focus muna ako sa second conference kasi malalaki ang kalaban eh,” he said.

San Miguel will have its first game against KIA Carnival, who has 7-foot-3 import Peter John Ramos.

Fajardo said all they need to do is to follow the system to take care of Ramos’ brilliant offense.

“May game plan naman si coach eh, kailangan lang sundin ang sistema ni coach kasi alam naman natin para sa team 'yun eh, hindi pwedeng gagawa gawa kami ng kanya kanyang plays eh. dapat sundin namin ang sistema ni coach,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com