Hawks’ Bruno Fernando commends toughness of Fajardo, Edu

By MARK REY MONTEJO

Gilas behemoths June Mar Fajardo and AJ Edu are no pushovers.

Atlanta Hawks center Bruno Fernando can attest to the toughness of the two, saying he had a hard time with them, and he admired them.

He said this after helping power Angola to an 80-70 win over the Nationals in the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on Sunday, Aug. 27.

Just like Dominican Republic’s Karl Anthony-Towns, the 25-year-old Angolan heaped praises on the Nationals towers in the likes of Fajardo and especially Edu.

“Obviously the other guy, Edu, he’s tough, he made it tough for me, it was a great fight and the guy [wears] no. 15 (Fajardo),” Fernando said.

“All of them, great players, they played a hell of a game. I’m impressed by all of them, great team, great atmosphere,” he added.

The 6-foot-10 cager finished with 15 points and seven rebounds to emerge as the second best player for Angola next to Gerson Goncalves who logged 17 points.