Size-lacking Nationals won’t be short in fight vs Kiwis, Aussies

WHO ELSE? Members of the PBA Press Corps, including the Inquirer’s Jonas Terrado (left), come out in full force to show support for June Mar Fajardo, the 9-time MVP from San Miguel Beer, who was named Mr. Basketball by the Philippine Sportswriters Association during its Annual Awards last Monday at Diamond Hotel. —MARLO CUETO

June Mar Fajardo acknowledged that the absence of Kai Sotto and Quentin Millora-Brown will put Gilas Pilipinas behind the eight-ball as it faces tough opposition in the second window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Sotto and Millora-Brown are out for the home matches against New Zealand on Feb. 26 and Australia on March 1 at Mall of Asia Arena, leaving Fajardo with the task of having to hold the fort down low.

“Both games are going to be difficult,” Fajardo said in Filipino on the heels of accepting the Mr. Basketball citation at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night on Monday. “We know that we’re up against New Zealand and Australia, but we will try to do our best.”

Millora-Brown’s agent came out on social media and said that his client and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas are at odds amid negotiations over the terms and conditions for him to represent Gilas moving forward.

The former University of the Philippines center played in the two convincing wins against Guam in the first window to mark his national team debut. He subsequently signed a contract to play as an Asian import for B.League side Chiba Jets.

Meanwhile, Sotto opted to skip the window since he had recently come back from a yearlong absence due to an ACL injury.

Sotto has not played for Gilas since the second window of the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers in late November 2024, highlighted by a home win over New Zealand.

Baltazar is back

Coach Tim Cone had considered Sotto and Millora-Brown as key assets for the national team. But with both out, Gilas will have to make do with what it has for the second window.

“We know how much they’ll help the team,” Fajardo said. “I hope they can be here to help us, but they have their reasons and we need to respect their decisions.”

As cover, Cone tapped the services of Converge star Justine Baltazar, who attended the first day of practice and the ongoing camp at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

Baltazar is back with Gilas for the first time since 2021, when coach Tab Baldwin handled a predominantly young pool.

“He will be a big help for us,” the San Miguel Beer mainstay said of Baltazar. “We hope he can catch up with our system and can be a big part of our program.”

Other bigs on the Gilas pool are Barangay Ginebra’s Troy Rosario, AJ Edu of B.League club Toyama Grouses and Carl Tamayo of the Korean Basketball League’s LG Sakers.