Japanese ace Kanazawa collects Camp MVP award at BWB Asia 2024

PERTH/MIES (Australia/Switzerland) – Rising Japanese star An Kanazawa celebrated taking MVP honors at the 14^th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia.

Kanazawa headlined the Girls Awards at the camp in Perth - the third time that the event was held in Australia. This year's BWB Asia camp also formed part of the inaugural HoopsFest - a multi-day basketball competition and fan weekend supported by Basketball Australia and the NBL. 

The Japanese ace was the top performer amongst the 30 participating girls aged 17 and under who were invited from across Asia-Pacific.

All the campers had the unique experience of learning directly from current and former FIBA, NBA and WNBA players, legends and coaches - as well as competing against their peers from the region.

It turned out to be a memorable camp for Japanese basketball, with Kanazawa joined by her compatriots Otoha Goto and Yui Seito also obtaining recognition for their work.

The duo both shone for their country at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup earlier this year. Goto was crowned the 3 Point Champion, while Seito impressed with her intensity and landed the Defensive MVP accolade. 

Kanazawa and Goto also locked down a place in the eight-strong All-Star list for the camp.

Meanwhile there will be excitement around the long-term future of the Tall Ferns with a trio of exciting New Zealand talents all cementing a spot in the shape of Keriana Hippolite, Bailey Flavell and Pahlyss Hokianga Heather.

Zara Russell and Jade Crook flew the flag on home soil as the Australian pair also made it, with the final berth taken by Chen Chia Shan Pan of Chinese Taipei.

As well as working intensively on their basketball skills, all the BWB Asia campers also took part in sessions that touched on life-skills, leadership development and social responsibility programming.

BWB Asia 2024 was also supported by Nike, a global partner of BWB since 2002, which outfitted participants with Nike apparel and footwear, while Gatorade, kept players and coaches hydrated throughout the camp.

FIBA