‘Asombrosa’ means ‘astonishing’ in Spanish!
That may be an understatement when looking back on the career of Maria Mongomo with the UNBC Timberwolves, but what it’s led to as of this month arguably defines her talent with authority.
The 2020 graduate is returning to Spain after signing a professional contract with a team in her home country’s top women’s basketball league, known as the Bembibre Basketball Club.
Mongomo spent five years in Prince George lighting up a storm with the Lady T-Wolves, which included a UNBC-record and Canada West-leading 402 points from last season.
That number also puts her at the top of the post-secondary school’s all-time list for women’s basketball just short of 1,700 career points.
She averaged 20.1 points per game and also led her team with 67 steals and 197 total rebounds, including 139 on the defensive side of the ball.
Given the nickname ‘El Fuego,’ which means ‘fire’ in Spanish, Mongomo played a key role in helping UNBC reach the conference playoffs for four straight seasons and nabbing the program’s first-ever postseason win in 2019.
She also earned two team MVP honours and a Canada West First Team All-Star selection from 2019-20.
“I have grown a lot as a player in these years,” said Mongomo in a translated Club Baloncesto Bembibre release.
“Going to Canada opened my mind even more regarding the different ways in which you can play basketball. As all of us who live it up close know, nobody gives you anything. I had to work very hard.”
Mongomo becomes the third UNBC import player in the last two years to ink a deal with a professional team in their home nation.
Last year, siblings Vasiliki and Vaggelis Louka signed with respective basketball clubs in Greece.
Mongomo is actually no stranger to playing in Endesa Women's League when she signed on with a different team as a 16-year-old, debuting in 2011-12 season before moving to Prince George in 2015.
“The League was already very disputed,” she added looking forward to suiting up for Bembibre.
“I hope it continues being the same or more competitive now. I want to have a mind free of prejudices that people have regarding the team. The most beautiful thing about basketball is that everything is possible in a match, so we will see what happens in this new season.”
Mongomo’s new team is located about 370 km from Spain’s capital of Madrid.
