It’s a name basketball fans in Prince George will recognize.
Former UNBC Timberwolves star Maria Mongomo has signed her first pro contract with Club Baloncesto Bembibre, out of Liga Femenina Endesa, the top women’s basketball league in Spain.
The 25-year-old is arguably one of the best basketball players UNBC has ever seen, collecting the Canada West Scoring title and becoming the first member of the Timberwolves to do so.
“I got to see another part of the world, which I really appreciate, and I learned a lot of things,” said the Psychology grad.
“I remember many moments when people used to congratulate me and tell me how much they loved to see me play. I really love those things, and it really gave me a lot of energy to continue in my years playing there. I just want everyone to know I really enjoyed my time,” she explained.
She finished off her career at UNBC by setting a school scoring record, with 402 points last season and 1,696 as a career total.
“Being a small university in Canada, people always think we are going to lose, so they don’t believe in us. I always like when we prove them wrong. We won important games and did so many important things in UNBC’s history. It gives you a good feeling when you prove them wrong,” she added.
The guard led her team to the conference playoffs for four straight seasons, winning their play-in game against the Lethbridge Pronghorns before being eliminated by the Calgary Dinos in the quarter-finals.
She also earned two team MVP Awards and a Canada West First Team All-Star Selection for 2019-20.
Mongomo is back home in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, otherwise known as the Canary Islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa.
She will join her new team to begin training at the end of August, however, the pandemic has everyone on high alert.
There have been 2,436 cases of COVID-19 on Gran Canaria and approximately 257,000 on the Spanish mainland.
“Here it is pretty controlled, but there are still restrictions like you have to wear a mask when you go in places with a lot of people or enclosed places,” she explained.
She has been working out on her own and is confident her skill can translate to the next level when the time comes.
Mongomo is no stranger to playing in the league, having joined a different team as a 16-year-old in 2011-12 before moving to Prince George in 2015.
“I was thinking about how it will be, why this team? Now, I’m going to be playing in Spain and closer to my family. The league is also really competitive. It’s one of the most competitive leagues, so I want to take that challenge,” she said.
“Before coming to Canada I was already playing at that level. I already know what I can expect but still, I want to work hard.”
However, the style of play differs greatly between the two countries, in her opinion.
“When I came to Canada, I never got used to it because I always have trouble with fouls!” she laughed.
“I was used to playing very physical from Spain, and coming to Canada, referees love to call offensive fouls. So I never really got used to that, until my last year I had trouble with that!”
Mongomo started her star-studded journey into the sport at age eight, when her best friend introduced her to the game.
She ended up falling in love with basketball and hasn’t looked back since.
“I love everything, I cannot claim one thing I think. I love defense, I really enjoy it, but I can’t just pick one thing,” she said.
“That’s how basketball is. You can do unbelievable things. You can make people believe in something.”
As for what number she will wear with her new team?
“Twelve,” she stated firmly. “It’s been my number all my basketball career.”
“I actually didn’t pick it. My first coach picked it, and it’s gained meaning over the years for me.”
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