MANILA, Philippines -- "Bai, bai, bai."
The popular Visayan endearment echoed around the Mall of Asia Arena as June Mar Fajardo made what could be his final exit as a Gilas Pilipinas player.
"Bai, bai, bai."
Fans again called the Cebuano gentle giant as he signed autographs and spoke with media members following Gilas' 68-56 win over Iran in window 4 of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier on Sunday.
He was clearly soaking in the moment.
"Bai, bai, bai."
Fajardo, a native of Pinamungajan, Cebu, finally answered them in their native tongue, connecting with the crowd that had come to witness what could be the final game of his national team career.
If it was indeed goodbye, Fajardo made sure it was a memorable one.
The 36-year-old played seven minutes and scored six points and grabbed two rebounds, going 1-of-1 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
All six of his points came during the final three minutes of the second quarter, when Gilas flipped a 29-21 deficit into a 36-34 halftime lead.
"This is my last. This is really my last," Fajardo insisted in Filipino.
"My last game was solid," he added.
The Filipino crowd made sure Fajardo knew what he meant to them.
Every time he touched the ball, particularly in the post, the Mall of Asia Arena erupted. Each of his touches became an opportunity for the nine-time PBA MVP to showcase the low-post arsenal that has made him one of Philippine basketball's most decorated players.
During his four free throws, the crowd serenaded him with MVP chants and then a standing ovation when the final buzzer sounded.
His teammates then gathered at center court to hand Fajardo the game ball, a keepsake of a potential Gilas farewell.
Fajardo said he plans to have it framed and displayed at home.
"It's heartwarming," Fajardo said. "They will be the ones carrying the national team. They are the present and the future."
Fajardo leaves behind a Gilas legacy that spans three World Cup cycles and several generations of the national team.
He played in 70 official FIBA games and represented the Philippines in three consecutive FIBA World Cups in 2014, 2019 and 2023.
His international journey began with a historic silver medal at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, which ended the Philippines' 40-year World Cup drought.
He then delivered one of his most memorable performances on the global stage in 2014, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds in an overtime victory over Senegal in Spain.
Eight years later, he was part of another historic moment, helping Philippines win gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, the country's first basketball gold medal in 62 years.
Whether backing up naturalized centers Marcus Douthit and Andray Blatche or anchoring the frontline alongside younger big men such as Kai Sotto under Tim Cone, Fajardo accepted whatever role was asked of him.
It was the kind of selflessness that became a defining part of his national team career.
And yet, Cone is not ready to close the door on him.
"I turned to June Mar, I said, 'I refuse, June Mar. You're still gonna be on call,'" Cone said. "So I told him, 'You never know what's gonna happen. You're on call.' But his intention is to retire from Gilas."
"I'm not sure we're gonna let him do that."
That door may be difficult to close, especially when the Philippines-and Cone-desperately needs size.
Fajardo remains the most readily available Filipino center for FIBA duty. Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips are all playing overseas, while Japeth Aguilar has already stepped away from the national team last year.
Justin Arana, who stands at 6-foot-6 and is four inches shorter than Fajardo, was in uniform against Iran but did not play, while Troy Rosario, known not as a legitimate big, did not see action during Window 4.
Justine Baltazar had meaningful minutes against Jordan, but Fajardo remains the most proven option with years of international experience.
For Cone, who has long valued size and versatility in his frontline, having an experienced big man like Fajardo available could prove crucial.
Dwight Ramos, one of Gilas' mainstays, already knows that Fajardo will be ready if the call comes.
"Oh, he's on call," Ramos said in his typically stoic manner.
Against Iran, Fajardo showed exactly why Cone may not want to lose that option just yet.
Unlike in the opening game against Jordan, he held his own defensively in the pick-and-roll and provided an immediate spark. In those seven minutes, Fajardo looked like a player determined to leave nothing behind.
"He did a good job defensively, too," Cone said. "They tried to attack him a few times, and he did a really good job defensively."
Still, Cone knows that building a roster for each FIBA window is a constant balancing act, especially with professional leagues around the world beginning or restarting their seasons in September and October.
Window 5 of the qualifiers is on Nov. 27 to 30, when the Philippines is scheduled to face Iran and Syria.
"We still got guys that can step into the program and give us some size and athleticism," Cone said. "But again, you just don't know the availability."
"You just don't know those things are gonna happen in the next window. So the depth that you have is actually very crucial to the success that you have," he added.
For now, Fajardo's Gilas story appears to have reached its final page.
But if this really was goodbye, Fajardo walked away as selfless and reliable, with the team's future in mind.
"Gilas has a bright future," Fajardo said. "We saw it, as long as everyone is healthy."
