Monique Bobongie to play for Australia’s U17 Sapphires in FIBA Asia Cup

It is hard to believe at age 15, this Queensland basketballer could be travelling across the world to represent her country doing what she loves.

Mackay #9 Monique Bobongie at the U16 girls basketball state championships in Auchenflower. SWM Pirates Purple vs Mackay Meteorettes on April 8, 2021. Picture: Renae Droop

At just age 15, Monique Bobongie is putting together efficient minutes for the Mackay Meteorettes.

If that was not enough, she has just been selected for Australia’s Under-17 Sapphires national team.

She will head to FIBA’s Asia Cup in Jordan late next month and should the Sapphires achieve a top-four finish, she will be off to Hungary in early July for the World Cup.

All of this, before her 16th birthday.

Monique Bobongie at the Under-16 girls basketball state championships last year in Auchenflower. Picture: Renae Droop.

It is a feat young Bobongie described as “a dream come true”.

“I can’t wait to go up against the best and play at one of the highest levels,” she said.

“I appreciate that coach Rob (Grieve) and coach Ross believe in me to give me that opportunity to play those important minutes especially at my age, I don’t think any coach would do that.

“I want to strive to be one of the best in Australia and play for the Olympics one day, playing College basketball and playing in the WNBL/WNBA.”

Meteorettes coach Rob Grieve said the honour was well deserved but that selection was “just the start of it” for the young combo guard.

“I would love for her to not just be on the team but be one of the best players,” Grieve said.

“She has the stuff that you really can’t teach and is already a mini professional in terms of how she goes about it.

“She is only 15 years old but carries herself like she has been doing this for a number of years.”

Grieve is often amazed at Bobongie’s ability on the court, but recalled a specific play where she drove baseline, motioned to pass and decided mid-motion that she was going to shoot a floater to score.

When asked who taught her how to do that or what inspired the move, Bobongie’s reply was along the lines of, “I don’t know, I just did it.”

It is this innate ability, combined with a willingness to learn that makes her a coach’s dream.

“If you show her something new, it might take her three times of messing it up and then she will get it right,” Grieve said.

“She’s really just a special player and you don’t get to coach many players like that over the journey.”

While other juniors moving up to the senior ranks may be asked to take a lesser role to what they are used to, Grieve has pushed Bobongie to be a “big-time scorer”.

She averages 12.7 points, 2.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds at an impressive shooting percentage of 45.5 per cent in the first three games of season 2022.

Bobongie, aged 13, became the first basketball player from Mackay to be named in the National Performance Program.

Ross Jensen first coached Bobongie as a 10 year old.

He was “proud as punch” after having heard the news.

“Her work effort and effort levels, have always set her apart,” Jensen said.

“Never once have I had to ask for her extra effort and she’s always strived to be the best she can be.”

Jensen recalled the Under-14 Nationals tournament, where Bobongie led in points.

It was then he began to believe the sky was the limit for her and it is a belief he holds to this day.

“She’s just a humble kid and just as good off the court as she is on the court,” she said.

Both coaches commented on the supportive family environment as a major reason for her success.

Originally published as Monique Bobongie to play for Australia’s U17 Sapphires in FIBA Asia Cup