HACKENSACK, N.J – Freshman women's basketball student-athlete Ella Fajardo received the distinguished honor as Women Ambassador in Basketball of the Samahang Basketbol ng Philipinas (SPB) on Friday. SPB is the National Sports Association (NSA) of basketball in the Philippines.

Fajardo, a native of Bergenfield, N.J, has been a member of the Philippine National Team most recently competing in the 2021 3x3 FIBA Women's Asia Cup. Fajardo was the youngest athlete in the competition by six months. In 2019 she earned a bronze medal at the FIBA 3x3 U18 Asia Cup. That same year she also competed in the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup, where the Philippines placed 8th out of 20 countries.

FIBA's Women in Basketball program is designed to use the platforms of elite athletes and coaches to increase diversity and female representation in basketball in the Philippines.

READ MORE ON FAJARDO'S JOURNEY IN INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL

The designation of ambassador for Fajardo coincides with her being featured in web-based program called SPB Women in Basketball presents Women in Charge on January 21 at 8 p.m. through the official SPB Facebook page.