Despite numerous triumphs in the Philippine Basketball Association, San Miguel Beermen's star June Mar Fajardo remains humble. He has secured nine MVP awards and 12 championships, yet stays simple and unassuming. Teammates compare him to NBA's Tim Duncan for his modesty.
June Mar Fajardo, who entered the PBA in 2012 as the San Miguel Beermen's No. 1 draft pick, has built a remarkable career. He has won nine season MVP awards, 10 Mythical First Team selections, 12 championships, and 13 Best Player of the Conference honors, positioning him as a contender for the greatest player in league history.
"The only thing that’s changed is his hair. I know for sure he’s probably had 15 different hairstyles. Other than that, he’s been the same gentle giant," said teammate Marcio Lassiter. His arrival revitalized San Miguel, leading to five straight All-Filipino titles from 2014 to 2019.
In the recent Philippine Cup, he claimed his fifth Finals MVP and the inaugural Ramon Fernandez Trophy. Yet, success has not made him arrogant. "I never let my accolades and awards get to my head. When I receive awards, I accept them, I’m grateful for them, and I keep them in my heart, but in my mind, I never think about having won anything," Fajardo said in Filipino.
Last season, he posted career highs in rebounds at 15.1 and assists at 3.1, alongside 19.2 points. Chris Ross remarked, "He’s the most unselfish player that I’ve ever played with. There’s a lot of similarities to Tim Duncan, as far as not wanting the spotlight, being able to be coached."
From a poor family in Cebu, his parents taught him to stay humble. He wears his own Kraken Apparel brand and drives the same Toyota FJ Cruiser from 2012. His hobbies include gaming and investing in stocks, cryptocurrency, and real estate. He often returns to Cebu to relax and fish, as noted by Gabe Norwood.
"He’s a simple guy. He loves the game, he loves to relax. He loves Cebu," Norwood added. A staff member hopes he soon finds true love.