UC’s 6’10” center to skip PBA, play for final year in Cesafi
JUNEMAR Fajardo is foregoing his plan to turn pro and will stay for one more year with the University of Cebu Webmasters.
Fajardo, who earlier announced that he would leave the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) after giving UC its first collegiate basketball title, decided to stay to help UC defend its crown.
“That was what we all thought of at first. He already said he will join the draft this year but he never really worked on it. And when he was interviewed when he got the Best Collegiate player award, he announced he won’t join the draft because he wants to play for UC,” coach Roehl Gomez told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
What’s keeping Fajardo from joining the professional rank is his wish to give UC back-to-back titles in the Cesafi.
“On top of the Cesafi title, Abay (Fajardo’s nickname) wanted to win the PCCL title. That is his mission now and he wants to leave that legacy before leaving UC,” said Gomez.
Fajardo led UC into the semifinal round of the 2010 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) and that earned him the National Collegiate Player of the Year award last Jan. 21.
Because of his decision, UC College of Law Dean and basketball team manager Atty. Baldomero Estenzo announced they will be sending Fajardo to the US to join a month-long Big Man’s Camp.
Estenzo was named “Motivator of the Year” during the same awarding rites.
“We are looking for a Big Man’s camp where most of the players from the NBA D-League will go. There are also a lot of teams that are interested in him, not only in the PBA, but in the D-League as well. But I am really thankful for his decision to stay and lead the Webmasters once more,” said Gomez.
The PBA is also planning to put up a D-League this year.
With the recent development, Gomez will now work on giving Fajardo the support that he needs since key player Kevin Julianne is no longer eligible.
“For now, I am committed to give Abay a solid supporting cast. Since Julianne has already consumed all his playing years, I have made a few phone calls with my friends abroad and I got in touch with one Fil-Am player who is very interested in playing for UC.”