MANILA, Philippines — The national basketball team got a surprise visitor during its practice on Thursday night, when San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo dropped by at the Meralco Gym.

Fajardo, a mainstay of the national team program, is set to miss two months of action due to a stress fracture in his right shin.

This means he will miss the upcoming FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier window, with the Philippines scheduled to play Iran on September 13 and Qatar on September 17.

However, that did not stop the “Kraken" from showing up to observe practice.

“Nood practice, bumisita,” Fajardo said in a brief interview shortly after he arrived.

Still wearing a protective boot on his right leg, Fajardo was warmly greeted by the national team players, which included three of his San Miguel teammates — Alex Cabagnot, Christian Standhardinger, and Marcio Lassiter.

The four-time Most Valuable Player was impressed with what he saw from the squad.

“Malakas, malakas. Buo ang kumpyansa ko sa team. Andito ako para sumuporta sa team,” he said.

Fajardo was admittedly disappointed to have missed out on the chance to team up with Greg Slaughter, who was also included in the national team pool this time around.

But he is confident that their time will come.

“Marami pang basketball na darating sa buhay. Bata pa naman ako, bata pa naman kami,” said Fajardo.

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