Athlete of the Week: Westmoor’s Teuila Tuiasosopo

Now, the Westmoor girls’ basketball team is hoping to benefit from the Tuiasosopo magic with the edition of junior transfer Teuila Tuiasosopo.

“I think we’re going to go far this season,” Teuila Tuiasosopo said. “The girls are improving in their skills and we’re working more together as a team.”

Tuiasosopo is in fact the niece of the former 49ers nose tackle, and has had as quick an impact on Westmoor as her uncle had at Candlestick Park. In just her third game since being activated — after sitting out the first month of the season as per Central Coast Section transfer rules — the Rams rolled to a 70-28 victory at Gunn-Palo Alto.

It’s the most points Westmoor has scored in a single game since the 2014-15 season. And Tuiasosopo, in earning Daily Journal Athlete of the Week honors, was at the forefront, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Rams are off to a modest 4-5 start in non-league play, but are 2-1 since Tuiasosopo hit the floor. And now head coach James Quanico — whose team finished with an overall record of 5-18 last season — is thinking big.

“In terms of the [Peninsula Athletic League North Division] … I think we’re in the running to at least make a playoff spot this year,” Quanico said.

Quanico is banking largely on the health of Tuiasosopo, which has been an issue the past two seasons. With three games under her belt at Westmoor, she has already played more games than she did in two years at Eastside College Prep-East Palo Alto, where she was on the varsity roster as a freshman and sophomore.

Two games into her varsity career as a freshman, Tuiasosopo suffered a season-ending ankle sprain. Then last year she didn’t play a single game due to a concussion.

“I think I’m doing pretty good,” Tuiasosopo said of her current health. “I’m still doing workouts here and there, but I’m still trying to stay healthy.”

A 5-10 power forward, Tuiasosopo has stuck an immediate chemistry with her Westmoor teammates. But this should come as no surprise. A native of Daly City, she grew up playing basketball with many of the girls on the Rams’ roster, including Niyahrah Valdemoro, Elleona Berania and Aaliyah Tavu since fourth-grade.

Tuiasosopo also has history with Quanico, who coached her during middle school when Tuiasosopo played for his San Francisco Flying Eagles club team.

“When he found out I was going to transfer, he was very happy when he knew I was going to be on his team,” Tuiasosopo said.

Quanico, however, wasn’t there last Wednesday for Tuiasosopo’s breakout game at Gunn. Westmoor’s head coach couldn’t attend, and handed the reins to assistant coach Vince Coloyan. And it turned out to have something of an impact on the Rams, according to Tuiasosopo.

Heading into the second quarter, Gunn (2-9 overall) was hanging with Westmoor, staying within two scores throughout the opening period. Then, when the Titans tied it up at the start of the second period, Coloyan called a timeout and tore into his team, Tuiasosopo said.

“We were shocked (they tied it) because we thought we had the game,” Tuiasosopo said. “So when we saw they were good competition, we had to step it up.”

In addition to Tuiasosopo’s double-double, senior forward Briana Wijangco added 12 points. And while senior guard Epiphany Dispo was the team’s elite defender, Patricia Reyes stole the show with three steals.

But it is Tuiasosopo’s rebounding that has taken Westmoor’s transition game to another level.

“Just having her able to rebound and score easily under the basket has been a big benefit and has really opened up our fast break,” Quanico said.

Competing in the PAL North Division stands to be a tall order though. While it has been just two years since Westmoor last advanced to the Central Coast Section playoffs, the Rams have found themselves buried in the league standings since Quanico took over in 2016-17. They were relegated to sixth place that season, then settled for fifth place last year.

Meanwhile, three-time defending champion South City is riding a 27-game winning streak in regular-season league play dating back to 2016-17.

“If we can get that second spot — I’ve got to take my hat off to South San Francisco and (head coach) Paul Carion; they’re still the team to beat — but we’re really trying to gun for that second spot,” Quanico said.