Ni Ernest Hernandez

MAHIRAP palitan ang kinalalagyan ni June Mar Fajardo sa Gilas Pilipinas, ngunit handang makipagsabayan nina Carl Bryan Cruz at Fil-German Christian Standhardinger para sa kampanya ng bansa sa FIBA Asia Cup.

Malaking kawalan si Fajardo sa Gilas, subalit handa si Cruz na punan ang pagkakataon sa kanyang batang career.

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“I think it is a good opportunity para sa akin at para sa iba na madadagdagan yung alam namin. Pero, alam mo, si June Mar malaking kawalan,” sambit ni Cruz.

“Yan ang frontline namin sa depensa, especially sa FIBA na under-sized kami.”

Handa ring ibigay ang kanyang kakayahan si Standhardinger upang kahit papaano ay makabawas sa bigat nang alalahanin ng Gilas sa pagkawala ng four-time MVP.

“I don’t want to think about it, I just want to play,” pahayag ni Hardinger.

“It doesn’t matter if it is 2 or 30 minutes. I will play as good as I can. Coach knows what he is doing and I have full faith in him. Starting or not starting, I know coach is going to do the right thing.”

Inaasahang ang mas mabigat na laban para sa Gilas bunsod ng pagka-injury ni Fajardo at pagatras ni Andray Blatche bunsod sa insyu ng seguridad sa Lebanon. Bunsod nito, mas kailangan ang tapang ni Hardinger.

“It is a hard hit against us. But at the at the end of the day, this is what my mother always tells me – you can only get older and just do your best. When you give your best and a storm is coming and everybody is negative on you because you lost, it’s ok because you did your best. No matter what, just do your best.”

Sa kabuuan, tanging ang Fil-German ang may taas na kayang makipagsabayan sa rebound kung kaya’t higit na kailangan ang malaking ambag mula sa beteranong si Gabe Norwood.

“I am excited for the guys who are going to get extended minutes, especially a teammate of mine, Raymond (Almazan) who is going to step up and play well for us,” pahayag ni Norwood.

Para kay team manager Butch Antonio, ang determinasyon ang magbibigay buhay sa kampanya ng Gilas.

“I’m sure they will fight,” sambit ni Antonio. “They will play with their hearts out but we will see how things will go.”