MANILA – Having former NBA player Bol Bol in the PBA 50 Commissioner's Cup is good for the league, according to San Miguel Beermen big man June Mar Fajardo.
A nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player, Fajardo relished the opportunity to go up against the towering TNT Tropang 5G import in their game at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
Despite the Philippine Cup finals rematch going TNT's way, the reigning MVP saw the silver lining in facing the former NBA player.
READ: Bol Bol powers TNT to 26-point victory over San Miguel
"Masaya, masaya makalaban siya. Nag-eenjoy yung mga tao sa game. Ang haba nga [niya] eh," Fajardo told reporters after their 118-92 loss to TNT.
"Maganda yun sa liga, maganda yun sa liga. So kita natin na sobrang daming tao," he added.
During the game, Fajardo and Bol even fist bumped and seemed to share some words while guarding each other in the paint.
When asked what he told the former NBA player, Fajardo said he simply commented on his 7-foot-3 height.
San Miguel center June Mar Fajardo and TNT import Bol Bol during their PBA Commissioners Cup game, March 28, 2026 at the Araneta Coliseum. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News
"Sinabi ko lang sa kanya na ang haba niya. Ang haba niya talaga eh... Mabigat din [siya], mabigat na mahaba," the San Miguel big man jokingly shared.
After going against Bol for the first time, Fajardo said he and the whole team are even more motivated to perform better.
"Yeah. Mas kailangan namin ano. Hindi lang ako, pero yung buong liga. Kasi NBA ano talaga [siya] at lahat ng teams nag-sstep up. Talk and Text yung team to beat," he said.
Despite slipping to a 1-2 record, the Kraken is not too worried about the Beermen since it's still early in the mid-season conference.
"Bawi nalang. Bawi nalang kami sa next game," Fajardo confidently said.
"Yung game na ito sabi nga ni Coach Leo [Austria], thing of the past na. So bawi nalang kami, move forward na kami," he added.
Fajardo and the Beermen look to bounce back on Tuesday, when they take on the winless Macau Black Knights at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.