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 My Site News: Ex - North Stars Roque Sisters Makes Coach Proud |
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Ex - North Stars Roque Sisters Makes Coach Proud
As I watched Angel & Jessica Roque finished their final home game at Father Goetz in their semi-final victory over Loyola, it allowed this old coach a chance to remember and reflect...
Most of you have probably heard of them... the Roque twins, Angel & Jessica. Lead the Goetz Senior high school team since Grade 9, perennial Peel favourites, perennial OFSAA attendees, 2-time Region Of Peel champions (and going for their 3rd), and now going south to Cleveland State. What some of you might not know is that they started playing basketball as North Star players.
I was their coach when they first started playing basketball. Angel, the oldest by minutes, was ready to play for our Tykes team. While other organizations used girls to fill their roster but didn't provide quality training, we understood the advantage of creating skilled girls playing with the boys at this age (especially since the girls would sprout sooner). Because of her size, age, and experience, she was relegated to the White Tykes team, while veteran players were on the Red team. Jessica was shy, and at first didn't want to play basketball... until she saw how much fun her sister was having in practices... so she joined.
That first year was fun, and though they were on a weaker team, playing the same competition as the veteran team, that experience of trying to carry that team really showed their competitive fires. The white team almost upsetted their competition in the semi-finals that year and it would have been red vs white in the finals, but they took that loss in stride.
One of my favourite memories was when I had decided to make one of the older girls on the White team Captain. Angel was smiling and kept asking... "can't I be captain? Come'on coach, I can be captain." She was much too young, but I realized in that moment what a special competitive spirit I had.
The next year they were ready to compete again in the Tykes division. Other organizations saw how the North Stars were successful because of the twin girls, so they started loading up. That year it became a battle between the Roque twins & Jamilla-Camilla twins of Dolce. The team was so successful, and Tykes division held legendary clashes. The only problem was the concern that Angel's figure skating coach wanted her to quit basketball. But basketball was one of her joys, and she and her sister continued to excel throughout the season. Unfortunately we fell short in the finals by 3 points.
The twins, brother, and cousins, continued to play for North Stars for a couple of years, but I was stretched too thin the previous year coaching 4 teams, so I decided to stick with a couple of older boys teams. That was one of my coaching regrets because eventually the twins decided to play in the other leagues with other teams, and I had lost contact with them.
And even though I no longer coach them, I still follow their progress. Sometimes I go and watch their school games. Sometimes I talk with their parents, and the father once said that I should have moved up to the OBA level. They have had many qualified coaches after me, and have learned so much since those first few years with North Stars. And I was happy that they ended up with the Sultan's OBA team, since their head coach, Fergie, use to be my assistant coach when I coached Fergie's kid brother in 1985-6. Coach Fergie has a quality organization, and has sent many girls south on scholarships. I felt bad when Jessica got injured and couldn't play a couple of seasons, but it also showed how strong Angel was as she excelled without her sister. And they now have both worked hard and were offered scholarships to Cleveland State... WWWWOOOOWWWW!!!!
So here I am at their last game at Father Goetz. They destroyed Loyola in the semis by more than 50 points, and will no doubtedly beat Notre Dame in the championship. And they are serious favourites to win Quad A championships for OFSSAA. They were being given certificates and roses for the leadership they provided... and even though I hadn't coached them in years, I was still so proud.
And talking with the their parents and Coach Fergie after, their mother said that of all the coaches in the filipino leagues, I was their favourite... and even joked that the Sultans could use me as a coach. And I'll tell you something... it touched my heart immensely to be remembered and regarded...
I've coached and I am coaching so many very good basketball players, some that are having measured success outside of North Stars basketball. I have always tried not only to coach the game of basketball, but to coach life. I am thankful to be part of my players lives, and I am so proud when they find success outside of basketball. And the players who are now starting basketball with the North Stars, and those who are playing... Please have fun, but dare to dream.
For the twins, that came to me early, that help lead my teams in those younger days, whose success in life is also tied to their success in basketball, I will always hold a special place in my heart. Yes you will always be a captain!
Jose Tomines
Head Coach, North Stars
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