By Jan Carlo Anolin
San Miguel Beer has the soft-spoken gentle giant in June Mar Fajardo. Then there’s the cheerful Moala Tautuaa, who left motivational words for his fellow big man.
San Miguel Beer’s Moala Tautuaa, left, and June Mar Fajardo during the 44th PBA Leo Awards. (PBA Awards)
“He’s a good guy. [He has] good energy to be around. We love the guy,” Tautuaa said after San Miguel Beer’s first win in the Philippine Cup, a 94-78 rout of the Magnolia Hotshots Sunday night.
Fajardo, who had surgery on a broken leg, attended the 44th Leo Awards before the opening ceremony on board an electric scooter and received his sixth Most Valuable Player award, with his parents, Bonifacio and Marites, in attendance.
“I’ve been playing for the team for only two months but I already… I really love that guy,” the Fil-Tongan center said.
“I just want to [give a] shout out to June Mar: Keep resting, get back stronger so we can win this together.”
In the opener, the 6-foot-8 center proved to be a force to reckon with, posting 20 points and 11 rebounds to go with two assists and a steal.
The Beermen acquired Tautuaa in a trade that sent Fil-German center Christian Standhardinger to the NorthPort Batang Pier during the Governors’ Cup last October.
Tautuaa averaged 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds last season, numbers instrumental to getting him hailed Most Improved Player during the awards.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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