Abiog ready to lead Marauders

Herb Abiog is a numbers guy.

The 39-year-old father of two has been a math teacher at Monache High, his alma mater, since 1998.

Abiog is also the new face of the Monache varsity girls basketball program, having been chosen to replace Rudy Montanez as the Marauders' head coach.

"I was pretty excited," said Abiog, a four-year player for Monache who graduated in 1991. "I've had a few weeks of sleepless nights trying to analyze the position and how I would approach it."

Abiog has done his analyzing, and he certainly likes the numbers he has returning from last year's team, which compiled a 21-3 record overall and went unbeaten in East Yosemite League play en route to winning the Division II Valley crown.

Eight players, including three starters, will return to try to make Abiog's transition from the junior-varsity level to the varsity stage as smooth as possible. Abiog coached the junior-varsity boys squad for four seasons, building a pupil-popping 77-4 record.

"These girls have high expectations," said Abiog, who also led the freshmen boys team to a 17-4 record in 2006-07. "With the number of kids coming back, [winning the Valley championship] is the same goal."

Among those who are returning are the Marauders' leading scorers in soon-to-be seniors Jenae Alcantar (17.9 points per game) and Dominique Pilkinton (13.8 points per game).

"It's exciting just watching those two play," Abiog said. "Jenae can light it up. When she gets hot, she gets hot. Dominique's a strong player. Just watching her and how she runs the offense, she knows where to go."

An assistant coach under boys varsity coach Gary Miller for four years, Abiog will also have a strong presence inside in junior Ale Tobie, a rangy player who averaged seven rebounds a game and snagged 168 boards total last season to lead the team.

"Ale's looking really good," Abiog said. "She's improved a lot."

Also returning are sophomore Emily Hardin and senior Diana Corona, who saw plenty of action last year and combined to score 289 points.

Indeed, Abiog has a strong nucleus coming back, and making another run at a Valley title — and possibly beyond — is not out of the question by any means.

"These girls want to go back to Valley," Abiog said. "They had a great experience."

And Abiog knows fans' expectations will be high seeing as how much of last season's Valley championship team is reuniting.

"There's going to be pressure on you, and it's going to be a learning experience not only for me but also for the girls because they're going to have to learn from a different coach," Abiog said.

Abiog said he does not plan to make any major changes to Montanez's system, which is highlighted by a dribble-drive offense and a trapping-press defense.

Abiog said he may make a tweak or two, but he hopes to build upon the foundation Montanez has already laid.

"These girls have run this system for about eight years. They know what they're doing," Abiog said. "[Montanez] would just say one thing during practice, and they knew. They would jump to their positions. It was like a well-oiled machine. Hopefully I can add on to what they already know."

District Athletic Director Rich Rankin is optimistic.

"He was a very successful JV boys coach," Rankin said of Abiog. "The next step for him is to be in charge of a program. I know the people of Monache are excited to have him in this new position."

What would make Abiog excited is if he can consistently shape Monache into a number-one team in the league and possibly the Valley.

That is a number he would never get tired of.