By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
MADE a name for herself in Women’s National Basketball Association while playing in Sacramento, guard Ticha Penicheiro shared that those years with the Monarchs were the best years she had in the league and something she still cherishes even now in retirement.
Recently in the country as part of the culminating activities of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 program, Ms. Penicheiro, 44, said the Monarchs team holds a special place in heart for providing her with the opportunity to showcase what she could do as a player coming off college, be an All-Star and a champion and, more importantly, inspire people in the community.
And while the Monarchs are no longer in the WNBA, the Portugal native is still hoping that someday a team would rise up again in Sacramento, who she believes deserves a WNBA team.
“It was in 2009 when the team unexpectedly folded. The owners just decided they did not want to invest in us anymore and they wanted to save money. And a lot of people in that area, not just in Sacramento but also in the Bay Area, are still heartbroken and they have pages on Facebook where say they want the Monarchs back,” said Ms. Penicheiro in one of her sessions with media while here.
“And I truly hope that soon we will have a team in Sacramento or the Bay Area so they could go to the games. They are still supporting the league until now, watching the games on TV. But going to the games and watching it live, there is nothing like it, and hopefully one day there is another team out there,” she added.
While with the Monarchs from 1998 to 2009, Ms. Penicheiro was a four-time All-Star and a two-time member of the All-NBA First Team (1999-2000).
She also won a title in 2005 and was recognized as one of the 15 top players of all time in the WNBA back in 2011.
Ms. Penicheiro, who played collegiate ball at Old Dominion University, finished her WNBA career with averages of 6 ppg, 5.7 apg, 3.3 rpg and 1.7 ppg in 454 games.
After Sacramento, she had stops with the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky before retiring in 2012.
She also played internationally during the WNBA offseason.
In Sacramento, Ms. Penicheiro played with great players like Yolanda Griffith and Ruthie Bolton-Holyfield, who she considers some of the best players that played the game and did a lot to further hone her skills.
“Yolanda is any point guard’s dream. She has amazing hands and you can throw anything to her and she would finish. When you are a point guard, a pass-first point guard like me, you depend on your teammates to look good and she certainly did that for me. She is an amazing rebounder, great heart and competitor. Ruthie is a great shooter much like Steph Curry. Besides being good players they are good people and teammates,” she added.
Adding, “I wish Sacramento did not fold and I would have played my whole career there. I really enjoyed playing there.”
JR. NBA ALL-STARS
Meanwhile, this year’s edition of Jr. NBA Philippines ended last Sunday with the naming of the All-Stars who will represent the country at the first Jr. NBA Global Championship Asia Pacific Selection Camp in Jakarta, Indonesia, in June.
After a series of multi-level selection process, selected were Dianne Camille Nolasco, 14, of Miriam College; Karylle Sierba, 13, of Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation; Mikylla Taborada, 14, Corpus Christi School Cagayan de Oro; Justine Mhyrra Vibangco, 13, Saint Joseph Parish School; and Princess BJ Marie Villarin, 13, De La Salle Zobel for the girls side.
On the boys’ side are Henjz Gabriel Demisana, 14, Bacolod Tay Tung High School; Joshua Minguillo, 13; Zhan Paolo Moreno, 14, Xavier University Cagayan de Oro; Sebastian Roy Reyes, 14, Nazareth School of National University; and Lionel Metthew Rubico, 14, De La Salle Lipa.
Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 was presented by Alaska, with AXA, Gatorade, Globe, Panasonic, Rexona and Vivo as official partners.
