Sumaya Shugapong and Naomi Panganiban share a unique bond.
Their initial encounter occurred during elementary school when they participated in the same club’s basketball program. They collaborated on the court for a decade and concluded three seasons as teammates at La Jolla Country Day.
The 5-foot-7 guard is currently a key player for two distinct NCAA Division I women’s basketball teams in San Diego. Shugapon topped the scoring charts as a sophomore at the University of California, San Diego, while Panganiban had already secured the accolade as a freshman at San Diego State University.
“We are like sisters,” Panganiban remarked earlier this week.
“It’s almost beyond that,” Shugapon expressed. “Our families intertwine as one. Our families participate in many of each other’s significant occasions.”
The connection extends even further. The Shugapons and Panganibans are part of San Diego’s tight-knit Filipino community. Over the summer, Sumaya and Naomi collaborated as members of the Philippine Women’s National Team. They aspire to eventually represent the nation at the 2028 Olympics.
Panganiban reflected on her profound friendship with Shugapon, stating, “Our connection has lasted since we first met.” “We played, trained, and shared aspirations together. We maintain communication weekly, despite being at different universities. We discuss everything.”
Shugapon added: “So much of our lives align and link together,” she noted. “Our family histories are nearly identical. We naturally enhance each other.”
During their tenure at La Jolla Country Day, Shugapon and Panganiban were part of a squad that secured two CIF San Diego Open Division titles. Both served as four-year starters at LJCD, but Shugapon concluded her academic journey a year earlier, graduating in 2023.
They continue to hold strong connections to their alma mater. Last month, Shugapon and Panganiban were present when Bamford achieved the milestone of becoming San Diego’s all-time leading women’s basketball coach in terms of wins.
“They’re not any better” than Shugapon and Panganiban, Bamford noted.
“They encompass everything,” she continued. “I’m lucky to have a lot of exceptional girls in my program.”
Shugapon has started all 47 games in her collegiate career and has been UCSD’s top scorer for the second successive season. She averages 13.4 points per game and leads the Tritons with 63 assists. Last season, she earned the Big West Conference Newcomer of the Year award and ranked sixth in the conference with an average of 14.0 points per game.
Panganiban earned the Coastal League Player of the Year title and was selected for the All-CIF first team and All-State second team last year, averaging 23.3 points per game as a senior at LJCD. She surpassed 1,000 points as a four-year starter and holds the LJCD school record in the 100-meter dash (12.68 seconds).
Panganiban, who has already received the Mountain West Conference Newcomer of the Week honor twice this season, made her fourth starting appearance in the Aztecs’ 81-62 victory over Nevada on Wednesday evening. She is averaging 10.4 points per game, shooting at a rate of 40.4 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Although Shugapon and Panganiban grew up just 10 minutes apart in Chula Vista, their friendship blossomed only after they enrolled in the same junior basketball program.
Mr. Panganiban was in his third year while Mr. Shugapon was in his fourth.
“Since then, we have been integral parts of each other’s lives,” remarked Panganiban, who regards Shugapon as a sister.
Following their high school graduation, both received invitations from universities nationwide.
“My family played a significant role in my choice of UC San Diego,” Shugapon remarked. “It’s an excellent institution, and the coaching staff expressed interest in me and has been very supportive. Additionally, being so near to home was a major draw. My family can attend most of my games. That’s wonderful. They are extremely involved.”
Shugapon’s father, Gino, serves as an assistant coach at La Jolla Country Day. Her younger sister Safiyah is a junior point guard at LJCD.
When Panganiban was exploring his college alternatives, he reached out to Shugapon once more.
“I inquired with Sumaya about her reason for staying local,” Panganiban stated. “Her choice made me feel more at ease being home.”
The only letdown for Sugapong was that Panganiban preferred San Diego State University over UCSD, which had shown interest in her.
“I was somewhat disheartened that Naomi believed San Diego State was a better fit for her,” Sumaya admitted.
The duo trains together during the summer and often challenges each other in one-on-one matches.
“We each possess our strengths,” Shugapon acknowledged. “(Panganiban) is becoming quicker and quicker… She made a fantastic first move.”
Panganiban commented that Shugapong is “physically stronger than I am and drives me to the basket.”
“All in all, it’s fairly balanced,” she added.
However, when questioned about who the superior shooter is, both replied, “Me.”
In their conversations, the subjects typically revolve around topics outside of basketball.
“Most of our discussions are about life,” Panganiban noted. “I hold her in high esteem in many aspects. Sumaya has been a source of support for me, particularly in my basketball career.”
“Naomi is the most hilarious person I have ever encountered,” Shugapon stated. “We share a close bond. We can discuss anything. Our personalities complement each other.”
Both Shugapon and Panganiban are thrilled about the chance of being invited to the Philippine national team this summer.
“It would be fantastic to play alongside each other again,” Panganiban expressed. “We are both content with our current situations, but being part of the Philippine national team holds significant meaning for us, our families, and the Filipino community in San Diego.”
“I miss playing alongside Naomi,” Shugapon remarked. “Our grandparents on both sides all migrated to San Diego from the Philippines via the Navy. That’s another connection we share. There’s a lot more. And everything is special.”