Who were the top 8 girls campers at BWB Asia 2022?

11/08/2022

BWB

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Who were the top 8 girls campers at BWB Asia 2022?

CANBERRA (Australia) - After three years without a Basketball Without Borders Asia camp, the 24 girls attended the camp were more than excited to learn from NBA and WNBA players and coaches in Canberra.

There’s been plenty of buzz surrounding women’s basketball in Asia and Oceania in the recent years and the future seems to be in good hands as far as they girls displayed.

Let’s take a quick moment here to check in on who were among the top campers in Canberra, coupled with some quotes about those players from camp coach and former WNBA player Annie La Fleur.

This list is based off the All-Stars of the BWB Asia camp and is not a definite ranking of any kind.

Many of the All-Star campers had recently played in the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship Division A as well as the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, but there were also many rising stars that are only getting their chances to shine here at BWB Asia 2022.

Quinn Kacy Dela Rosa (PHI)

This includes the likes of the Philippines’ Quinn Kacy Dela Rosa, Australia's Ruby Vlahov, and Japan's rising stars Honoka Morioka and Chinami Yokoyama.

For some like Vlahov, the coaches were a bit more familiar with.

Ruby Vlahov (AUS)

“Her dad played for the Boomers way back so I know him well,” said La Fleur. “The grit she has - she’s a big that can play inside and outside.”

Others like Chinami Yokoyama were a bit unknown to the coaches, but greatly impressed by the end of the camp - even earning Defensive MVP honors. The impression was not only reserved at an individual level, but also reflected how basketball is being developed in each country as well.

Chinami Yokoyama (JPN)

“[The Japanese guards are] so athletic, their guards are amazing,” complimented La Fleur. “Chinami - I said to one coach - I think she should be over there with the boys just because of how dynamic she was. She was picking players up the court, getting steals, making opportunities for the team to score.”

Honoka Morioka (JPN)

Among one of the three All-Stars from Japan included Reina Fukuo who played for Japan at the U16 Asian Championship where she averaged 6.8 points and 6 rebounds per game.

Reina Fukuo (JPN)

“Japan have come a long way. They have good coaches in the country, they’re using what they have and that is they’re fast and they can shoot. I think it’s really showing in the way these young players have performed in the four days.”

Lilly Taulelei (NZL)

The All-Star roster also included Layla Cameron and Lilly Taulelei who previously played for New Zealand at the U16 Asian Championship and U17 World Cup. Both are key players for the young Tall Ferns with a little bit more expectation shouldered by Layla.

“She’s tough,” said La Fleur. “I’ve watched her play in the Gold Coast. Her family - Pero was an amazing player for New Zealand and he’s got sons that are in college as well and playing for New Zealand.”

Across the previous two events this summer, Cameron averaged 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.

Layla Cameron (NZL)

“One thing I see her learning is just about being a communicator because she’s a guard and that’s something that this camp really focused on which was just getting these kids out of that shell. You’re in an unfamiliar environment but you are bringing in what you do well. She communicated well in the Gold Coast with those teams, but she was a little bit quiet here and I challenged her to come out of that shell and try to use that big voice that I know she has.”

The loudest voice at the end of the camp among the girls campers was Lulu Laditan, another player who has had a busy summer player for the Sapphires at both youth events in the past months.

Lulu Laditan (AUS)

“It was great watching her and it kind of took me back to when I was her age and the opportunity I had,” La Fleur reflected, while also having some first-hand experience to share with the youngster.

“I did have a chat with her and I said for her being a guard and sharing my experience with Olympic team, I was told ‘You need to lose weight, you need to be in great physical shape if you want to make this team.’.”

“I’m a point guard, my strength is my quickness. If I’m carry a little bit of weight, I’m not going to be as quick as I can be. Playing up the floor defensively, being creative offensively, offensively just being able to attack and create opportunities. I see that in her.”

This falls in line with what Laditan has been showcasing in the events this sumer where she is averaging 8.2 points per game.

“She’s young and these are the things that she needs to learn. Being a communicator, these are the things that she needs to learn. She’s a fantastic scorer, can she make others better?”

Laditan should have many, many more moments to answer La Fleur’s question as she - along with the other All-Stars and players at this camp - should play a part in the future of their respective national teams down the road.

FIBA