Gilas Pilipinas Women U18 team captain Ava Fajardo recently grew her experience in the international scene as she was one of four Philippine campers in the Basketball Without Borders Asia camp in Australia, which wrapped up over the weekend.
Joined by fellow Batang Gilas representatives Sophia Canindo, Ariel De La O, and Joaquin Ludovice, Fajardo got invaluable lessons from BWB coaches which included basketball legends Aron Baynes and Cynthia Cooper.
[ALSO READ: Gilas Youth overcome language barriers through sports during Basketball Without Borders Asia camp]
A trip that was also highlighted by a surprise visit from 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, Fajardo soaked it all in like a sponge.
But with only so many slots allotted for the Philippines in the camp that had representatives from 19 countries, Fajardo said that she was looking to pay it forward once she has the chance – especially towards fellow national team players.
“This BWB camp, there’s been a lot of great mentors and great players and I was just honored to be able to play off with them, just grow my game through them. And one thing that one of the mentors said is to expand the game by showing people who didn’t go to the camp, what I’ve learned. That’s what I’ll do with the Philippine national team,” said Fajardo, who is the younger sister of Gilas Women mainstay Ella Fajardo.
“[I’ll] apply everything that I learned there so that the ones who weren’t able to participate in this camp, I’m able to show them what I learned and grow the game through that.”
Fajardo has been a constant in national team play for the girls teams, as she’s joined the U16 and U18 teams in recent years. But as she hopes to make the transition to the seniors team soon, Fajardo believes that the things she picked up from the camp will surely be helpful.
Among her biggest lessons centered around taking care of her body, which for Fajardo was an approach she didn’t quite hear yet from other coaches.
“There was Carmelo Anthony, who emphasized our body--which is not really always emphasized especially in the game. It’s always about mindset and growth. You don’t usually get that information on your body,” said Fajardo.
She also got coaching to take care of the mind, which came from Aussie Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist Jenni Screen.
“Coach Jenni also mentioned stuff about [what’s important is] above your shoulders. It’s your mindset and everything as well,” she said.
“So [I’ll be] applying that to the Philippine national team and showing the girls who I play with, all of the things that I learned,” she added.
A week well spent in the Land Down Under!
— Avafajardo2026 (@avafajardo2026) September 22, 2024
Competed against super skilled players from the Asia Region & learned from basketball legends in a special event that only Basketball Without Borders can offer.
Grateful for this experience I will never forget. #BWBAsia 🏀🇵🇭??🇦🇺🦘 pic.twitter.com/hig4Csi9r0
The BWB Asia camp was done through a partnership between the NBA, FIBA, and the National Basketball League.
Apart from her national team duty, Fajardo plays for Blair in New Jersey and also suits up for Exodus NYC in Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League.
