MANILA (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - June Fajardo will not be running short of confidence come 23 September, when he stepts onto the court to play for the Philippines at the FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, China.

The giant center has had a terrific season on the domestic front and has been hearing plenty of praise from the national team coach, Tab Baldwin.

"June Mar deservedly is the player of the conference and probably, the player of the year [MVP] because he's such a force in Philippine basketball,” Baldwin said to Philstar.com.

Baldwin has been making his assessments of the player all season long.

The 2.08m Fajardo, who was born in the island province of Cebu in the Philippines, went into the 2014-15 basketball year after making a first-ever appearance at a FIBA Basketball World Cup.

He averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last year in Seville, Spain, where Gilas took their fans on a wild ride that ultimately came up short of the Round of the 16.

Fajardo, 25, has been playing for the San Miguel Beermen, helping them to a 3-0 lead over the Alaska Aces in the PBA Governor's Cup.

"[Fajardo dominates] because of his size," Baldwin said.

"His footwork#s getting better."

His [Fajardo's] confidence is great and he scores at such a high percentage around the rim. - Baldwin

One of his San Miguel teammates, Marcio Lassiter, has also been the subject of a positive assessment by Baldwin.

A guard, Lassiter has been a three-point shooting weapon and looks a dead certainty to be in the 26-man Philippines preliminary squad that will be announced after the PBA Governor's Cup Finals.

"As far as Marcio, he's a tool," Baldwin said.

"Right now, he's one of the best tools in the tool box for San Miguel.

"He gets himself down those corners.

"He's at the end of the rotation after the double team and his confidence as well is just sky high shooting the ball.

"There's no better shooter in the country right now than Marcio."

Lassiter, 28, was born in San Francisco, California.

He played for Gilas at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship.

FIBA