June Mar Fajardo will sit out the first window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone confirmed to One Sports on Sunday.

This was due to a calf injury Fajardo suffered in Game 4 of the recently-concluded PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals that saw him play through pain in the next two games to help San Miguel claim its 29th PBA crown.

“He has been ruled out for the first window due to a calf injury,” Cone said.

Gilas will take on the home team at the Tsuen Wen Stadium in Hong Kong on February 22, before hosting Chinese Taipei at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City three days later.

Like San Miguel teammate CJ Perez, Fajardo is part of the 12-man lineup Cone and company plan to field in international competitions for four years. Also in the said roster are Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo, as well as Japan B.League cagers Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, and AJ Edu.

As of this writing, the seven-time MVP is currently spending his downtime with his family in Pinamungahan, Cebu after a gruelling series against the Hotshots.

Cone is hopeful the 6-foot-10 behemoth can still join the team when it leaves for Hong Kong on the 20th.

“We’re hoping he’ll be able to join us in HongKong but he will not play,” the multi-titled mentor.