Fajardo set to sign 3-year, multi-million deal with SMB

CEBU, Philippines - His first three seasons in the PBA had been very rewarding for Cebuano hardcourt star June Mar Fajardo. Now, he's looking forward to another three prosperous years with the San Miguel Beermen.

The 'Gentle Giant' from Pinamungajan, Cebu is set to renew his contract with the San Miguel franchise anytime next week that will make him wear still the Beermen uniform until 2018.

Highly esteemed sportsman Baldomero 'Merong' C. Estenzo, Fajardo's legal adviser, said Fajardo will be getting the maximum allowable salary for three years with the Beermen.

With the biggest salary a team can give a player is currently pegged at P420,000 per month, the pact would make Fajardo at least P15 million richer.

"Actually, the management of San Miguel and June Mar have already agreed in principle about the renewal of his contract for three years a few days ago, but we have to clear things up first with his parents [if they are okay with the deal]. Now that his parents have already given their blessings, June Mar is set to sign the contract anytime soon," said Estenzo, who helps chart the career of Fajardo even during his struggling days as varsity of the University of Cebu Webmasters in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

In his three-year pro career, the 25-year-old Fajardo has written more history than expected. After becoming the first ever Cebuano cager to emerge as No.1 overall pick in the PBA Draft, he further claimed a piece of history by becoming the first PBA player to clinch back-to-back MVP trophies in 14 years.

Fajardo also made an impression for Gilas Pilipinas that made a historic run in the FIBA World Cup last year in Seville, Spain. His stint with the national squad has greatly boosted his confidence that it even earned him the tag as the' future of Philippine basketball'.

Testament to that, the hulking 6-foot-10, 270-pound center completed his third season as a pro with solid numbers of 17.4 points, 12.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on the way to claiming his second MVP plum, along with spots in the Mythical First Team and All-Defensive team, two Best Player awards and Finals MVP in the Governors Cup.

At the moment, Fajardo is recuperating from a plantar fasciitis on both his feet that kept him out of duty for the national team this time.

Fajardo's return to SMB's fold is truly welcome development as it would reunite him with flashy guard Brian Heruela, his close friend and former teammate. They make a formidable tandem in powering the UC Webmasters to two straight CESAFI championships (2010-2011) during their collegiate years.

From Blackwater Elite where he averaged 10.58 points, 5.23 rebounds and 4.88 assists per game, Heruela was traded to Barako Bull Energy, who then shipped him to San Miguel in exchange for Jeric Fortuna. (FREEMAN)