AMMAN, JORDAN - Very few athletes can consider themselves 'world travelers' by the age of 18. Freshman Ella Fajardo is one of them. Ahead of the 2021 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, which takes place in the nation of Jordan from September 27 to October 3, where she will be the youngest player in the tournament by a full six months, Fajardo continues her travels all over the globe, and now she will do so while representing two nations as a dual-citizen as well as the Burgundy and Blue of FDU. 

"I'm very, very, excited for this," said Fajardo, her smile apparent through her mask. An already-experienced youth international with the Philippines, Fajardo has been involved in several three-on-three international tournaments. Her accolades include earning a bronze medal at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 Asia Cup as well as placing eighth out of 20 teams that same year in the U18 3x3 World Cup. Set to return to the U18 World Cup this past summer, COVID robbed her of that last hurrah in the youth team set-up, but she can exchange that for a trip with the senior side for the biggest tournament in Asia. 

Fajardo's experience in the 3x3 sport has been able to provide the young point guard with extremely valuable experience, both physically and mentally. On the mental end, coaches are not allowed to speak to their players in the run of play. It is up to the players to understand the situation and take timeouts and call plays when needed. 

Physically, Fajardo notes, "There's a whole lot of conditioning in 3-on-3." With the shorter shot clock, the half-court structure, and the potential for plenty of mismatches onto taller defenders, Fajardo has had to place an emphasis on being in peak physical shape, while also molding her game to the rules structure and developing the ability to create her own shot. 

With regards to goals and expectations, Fajardo looks forward to elevating the sport in the Philippines, specifically for young women looking to break into the world of basketball. She would say, "Basketball in the Philippines is such a huge thing, but only for the men's side. One of my biggest goals, even while playing at the youth levels, was just trying to get more hype for women's basketball."  

Noting the inequality within the perception of the sport and the gender roles attached to it, Fajardo would also add, "I just hope to be a role model for the youth in the Philippines and tell them, hey, you can play basketball if you want. We're a good team, this is a good program, and this is something that you can pursue. Hopefully, in a few years, I'll be able to change their mind about it." 

Along with her role as a positive role model for women in basketball, Fajardo takes pride in her position as a Filipino-American representing the country that both of her parents were born in. "I'm very thankful for my parents, because they made it a priority for me to go to the Philippines every year so I could connect back to my roots," she would say. She continued, "Much of my dad's side is from the Philippines, so I definitely have a strong connection with my culture and my family there." 

Indeed, when news broke of Fajardo's making the full national team, it was her parents who expressed the most joy. Fajardo also emphasized the love that she consistently felt from the fans of the Gilas Pilipinas, noting how they consistently remain interested in her adventures in the U.S. and look forward to seeing her donning the blues of the national side. She would add, "Win or lose, they're going to have your back." 

Fajardo's journey to the national team is a long and winding one, starting when she first picked up a basketball in third grade. Fajardo was urged on by her father, who played college basketball in the Philippines, to pick up the sport. "I wasn't very good at all," she laughed, but her father saw in her a grit and determination that continues to persist in her game today. "You can't control height, but you can control heart," she would say, "and that's definitely something that I think I've always had." 

A childhood fan of Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant, her game is clearly influenced by both, the uncanny passing sense and willingness to pass-first of Kidd combined with the ability to get into the lane and create her own shot like Bryant. Her father also showed her the likes of Spud Webb and Muggsy Bogues, described to her by her father as "players I could relate to." Her skill development has helped take her down the road to not just the Philippines national team, but to FDU. 

Fajardo chose to stay local and commit to FDU for several reasons. She initially lived with her parents just ten minutes away from campus in Bergenfield, but they have since moved slightly further away. She joked, "I always tell my parents they're the ones that moved away from me!"  

Due to the proximity, Fajardo had always been away of the university, and upon her initial conversations with the staff, it seemed like a perfect fit. "When I talked to the coaches I saw how family-oriented they are and how genuine everyone is," she would say. "I just really like that kind of community and lifestyle, and how much everyone has supported me as a dual citizen playing for the Philippines national team; that was a huge thing I needed from the coaches and they're totally on board with that." 

Fitting for her work ethic, her emphasis on her contributions as a player within this FDU team concern her abilities as a leader. She would say, "The coaches said they definitely needed my leadership on the team, so I've been doing my best to learn from the captains and just everyone around me – how to find my voice and become a leader." She emphasized her relationship with one of last season's team captains Madeline Selvaggi as someone she looks up to and, quite literally, attempts to run with – Fajardo noting how she runs next to the senior in conditioning to try and keep pace with her.  

When asked about her hopes for the future, Fajardo paused briefly to ponder down the line, when she is a senior and a potential captain.  

"I hope that in four years from now I gain so much more knowledge in the game, so much knowledge about myself – I feel that this is a place where I'm going to grow as a person, as a sister, and a role model to the youth, especially in the Philippines."  

Fajardo's emphasis on family and leadership make her not just an excellent point guard on the court, but a model teammate and member of the collective team off of it.