US NCAA-bound Ella Fajardo still committed to Gilas Women

Ella Fajardo affirms her commitment to the Gilas Women’s national team program even as she heads to another stage in her basketball journey.

Billed as the future of the national team’s backcourt, Fajardo will suit up next season for the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Knights in the US NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball.

But the teen standout vows she’ll always be on call to play for the country.

“At (national team) coach Patrick Aquino’s command or request, I will always be ready to represent the flag whenever I am needed,” she said.

Fajardo shared how she ended up on FDU’s recruitment radar. 

“I believe Fairleigh Dickenson University first watched me in an exposure camp I attended during the live recruitment period in July 2019,” she said. “They actually recruited a teammate of mine who was a year older, so one of the FDU coaching staff was almost always watching our high school games this past season.”

Fajardo had an outstanding 2019-2020 season as the court general of the Gill St Bernard’s, an independent college preparatory school in New Jersey. 

In the team’s first game last December 20, she scored 28 points built on 4 triples while also registering 3 boards and 3 steals as the team won over Hillsborough, 61-59. She ended the season averaging 13.3 points, 2.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals.

This impressive performance led to a number of schools showing interest, including Yale University, United States Naval Academy, Columbia University, Cornell University, University of Chicago, Iona College, Stonybrook, New York University, Emory, Gettysburg, Drew, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology

Fajardo eventually decided that it was best to be closer to home and to find the institution that offered the right balance between athletics and academics. 

“I felt that FDU really wanted me, not just as a player, but for the qualities I possess as a young woman,” she said. “They made me feel very wanted and to be part of the winning culture they are trying to cultivate. 

“FDU has a strong academic program and offers the courses and career paths that I am most interested in. So, it is a win-win situation for me.”

True point guard

Acknowledging that Division 1 basketball will be tougher as she faces bigger and older competition, Fajardo has put in extra work to prepare herself for the long grind ahead. 

“I am doing strength and conditioning workouts at a facility on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to get my body fit,” she said. “I watch game films of my past season and take note of the little things I feel I have to get better at.”

Fajardo, who has been lauded by scouts for her leadership skills and ability to effectively communicate with teammates, will be learning from FDU coach Angelika Szumilo, who as a college player at Long Island University Brooklyn, led her team in assists.

Szumilo will be entering her second season as head coach after a successful stint as associate head coach at Fordham University, which she helped lead in the NCAA tournament. 

Szumilo has already given Fajardo a preview of her expectations from her incoming rookie point guard. 

“Coach Szumilo wants me to be a true point guard and leader on the court,” shared Fajardo. “She wants me to embody that position as the extension of the head coach so that my teammates and I will be on the same page and will execute her given instructions properly.” 

“Under her tutelage, I wish to learn how to be the best person on and off the court,” she added. “I know that spending 4 years in college under her wing will bring me many life lessons and memories that I will take with me for the rest of my life.”

Having played internationally will come in handy in college for Fajardo as she says it has taught her how to be mentally and physically tougher and how to have quicker decision making on the court. 

Fajardo has donned the national colors twice in 3×3 basketball. Last year, she was part of the Gilas Under-18 team that reached the quarterfinals of the FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup. She also quarterbacked the national team to a bronze medal finish in the FIBA Asia 3×3 U18. 

“Playing on the world stage against bigger and tougher opponents and even beating them, has built up my confidence,” said Fajardo. “It just proves that it is not all about talent or height, but how much you want something and how to play with all your heart.” – Rappler.com