Nofuente coaches Team Canada to GLOBL JAM gold
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
Seven years after playing for Canada at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Humber Hawks women's basketball head coach Ceejay Nofuente was once again donning the red and white — this time on the sidelines as an assistant coach.
She was part of the coaching staff that guided Canada's U23 women's team to a gold medal at GLOBL JAM, the four-day international tournament hosted from Aug. 13 to 17 at Toronto Metropolitan University's Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Canada opened the tournament with a 104-56 blowout win over Brazil before falling 70-61 to the Texas Longhorns. The U23 squad bounced back with a 96-46 win over Puerto Rico to set up a rematch with the Longhorns in the final.
Texas, a No. 1 seed at March Madness earlier this year, had suffocated Canada in their first meeting behind Madison Booker's 18 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
Heading into the final, Nofuente said Canada's adjustments focused on containing Booker and forcing her teammates to adjust.
"I think the biggest thing going into the finals was that the people that needed to step up, stepped up, and we played well as a team," Nofuente said.
That approach paid off as Avery Howell poured in a game-high 24 points to lead Canada to a 72-65 victory and the gold medal.
For Nofuente, who had previously only represented Canada overseas, the experience of winning on home soil carried special meaning. It also gave her a deeper understanding of the preparation and behind-the-scenes work that goes into coaching.
She already knew the demands of training and competing as a player. Still, this experience showed her the importance of planning training camp, scouting, managing recovery and ensuring players have everything they need to succeed.
Beyond the gold medal—the "cherry on top of the summer," as she described it—the moment was significant because it reunited her with a familiar face.
Nofuente played one year for coach Carly Clarke at the former Ryerson Rams, now TMU Bold, in 2012. Clarke, a longtime coach with Canada Basketball, was the one who invited her onto the staff.
When she got the call to coach at GLOBL JAM, there was no hesitation.
"I said yes right away. Even if it didn't work, I was going to make it work," Nofuente said. "I always tell my players that everything is an experience within itself. So if you ever get invited to things, if a coach is ever giving you feedback, always take it, because you learn something every day."
Nofuente said the experience translates directly to her role leading the Hawks.
"Basketball is basketball. The ball still has to go in the hoop," Nofuente said. However, it is the preparation that separates the good teams from championship teams. After falling just short in last year's OCAA gold medal game, Nofuente said her time with the national team showed her the extra steps needed to get over that final hurdle.
The international stage also gave her the perspective on building chemistry in a short time. With the U23 squad, Nofuente worked with a vast pool of athletes from different schools and systems who had to gel quickly in just two weeks. She said building that sense of togetherness has challenged her growth.
As the OCAA season approaches, Nofuente said the experience with Canada Basketball, along with the support she felt from her Humber players who attended Canada's first meeting against Texas, has only fueled her drive to uphold Humber's already high standards.
"I want to take the things I have learned and build on that at Humber. The goal is always to win, so just trying to keep our foot on the gas."
The Hawks will tip off the OCAA regular season on Oct. 22 against the Conestoga Condors before returning to the Hawks' Nest on Oct. 29 for their home opener against the Niagara Knights.
