July 14 ------ GILAS Pilipinas Women prospect Ella Fajardo is staying Stateside. The 17-year-old Fil-Am guard bared that she has committed to Division I school Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. "I’m coming home to the next chapter of my academic and athletic journey at Fairleigh Dickinson University," she posted on her social media accounts. "It has been my dream to get a quality college education and be able to play at the Division 1 level." "My story has not been easy and I am working hard everyday to prove myself over and over and to earn every victory and success that come my way." Fajardo, standing at 5-foot-6, previously represented the country twice in 3x3 competitions.
Teaming up with current National University stalwarts Camille Clarin, Angel Surada, and Karl Ann Pingol, the Philippines reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 Fiba 3X3 Under-18 World Cup in Ulaanbaatar. She was also part of the bronze medal-winning Gilas team, together with Clarin, Surada, and Kristine Cayabyab, in the 2019 Fiba 3x3 Under-18 Asia Cup in Cyberjaya. In her senior year in high school at Gill St. Bernard's, Fajardo averaged 13.4 points, 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. Fairleigh Dickinson won't be that far from Fajardo's home in New Jersey, but she will have her work cut out for her with the Knights, who went 12-17 last season, including an even 9-9 slate in the Northeast Conference.
Source: spin.ph