Ella Fajardo and Vanessa de Jesus will not be in uniform when Gilas Pilipinas Women compete in upcoming international tournaments.
Gilas head coach Patrick Aquino made the confirmation to Daily Tribune, saying that Fajardo will not see action in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou and the William Jones Cup in Taipei to return to her collegiate team in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association.
‘She’ll be back in the US for the NCAA by the time we compete in the Asian Games.’
The 20-year-old Fajardo, who helped Gilas secure the silver medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games last May, used to play for Fairleigh Dickinson University in the Division I of the US NCAA.
She, however, has moved to Iona University and the upcoming season is very crucial since she has to undergo residency to complete her transfer.
“She’ll be back in the US for the NCAA by the time we compete in the Asian Games,” Aquino said.
“I don’t think she can make it either in the William Jones Cup.”
Also facing the same dilemma is De Jesus, a guard out of Duke University.
In her first stint as naturalized player for Gilas Pilipinas, De Jesus made a strong impression as she helped the Filipinas come up with a respectable performance in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Sydney last week.
The Filipinas placed sixth — their highest ever finish in the tournament since qualifying in the Division A.
“In Vanessa’s case, she will ask permission to be allowed to play in the Jones Cup, but she and Ella are definitely out in the Asian Games,” Aquino said.
The Jones Cup will be held on 5 August while the Asian Games is scheduled from 23 September to 8 October.
“The Jones Cup is important for us because it will give us more chances to study our likely opponents in the Asian Games,” Aquino said.
