MVP Gabby Williams' childhood coach on her championship win with the Valkyries

All right, everyone, continuing to talk about the Valkyries. Gabby Williams, named MVP in the WNBA Finals. She has roots right here in the Bay Area. Her youth coach, Alfonso Jew, is the founder of the Bulldogs Basketball Club in Daly City, and he was at Game 7 Saturday night. He certainly was, and she was really something else. We were just talking about that. So he coached Gabby from the fourth grade through middle school. Jew came into our studio today to talk with our Janet Katsuyama about coaching Gabby. And that emotional moment after game seven, when the two hugged right there on the court. We are so thrilled here at KTVU to have coach Alfonso Jew here. He coached for Gabby Williams, who of course was the MVP of the WNBA finals this year as the Valkyries went on to win the championship. And coached you. Thank you so much for being here with us. What an incredible night it was in that game seven. And one of the moments that I think really captured a lot of people's hearts was seeing you and Gabby afterwards when she has this championship hat on the shirt and then that. That trophy. I wanted to ask you just sort of first of all, what did it mean to you to be there that night to see someone that you have coached and brought up through these years be able to have this kind of success? It's just walking up to Chase Center, just taking it all in. Remember, I'm an OG, so little things like this, like, you know, captures your heart and just. Makes you start to think backwards and you just reminisce about so many different things when she was younger, what have you. But it was surreal because it was like, yeah, this is really happening. This is really happening. And you just, you're competitive, you're thinking, okay, how's game seven going to come out, right? Right? Yeah. Like, Kay, you know she's mad. You know she's going to punch back. You know, that hug that she gave, I mean, we've heard how, you know, she can be so generous with her teammates and really there was so much love in that moment. Can you share a little bit about, like, it looked like you were saying something to her. Like, what was that moment? It was, yeah, it was a great moment. Just being able to just Share that moment with her and whisper in her ear what I thought and And um... What I've always believed in and and how proud I was and you know, who's looking upon right now on her success And it's just reminiscing and it's just saying right off the bat, you know You're the greatest player in the world and I knew you can do it. I just I knew you can do it And of course she had her moment. I had my moment. We were trying to have our moment In front of all those cameras. We forgot that everybody else was there, so to speak. And tell us about the Bulldogs. Do you remember when she first came to you? What was it like having her step out on the court as a young person? Okay, so I was asked to coach. So I have my club, but back in our day, whenever there was a need for a coach to fill in or to do what have you, so I did that for Gabby's dad. Yeah. He got a kick out of the way I was coaching, and we built a long-term relationship from day one. Um, and I. And how was that? How were you coaching? You were coaching her in a certain way? I was coaching her the way we play here in the city, which is fast, defensive-minded, defense into offense. And what kind of player was she when you first saw her? Oh, she's just the same player you see right now. Really? Even that young? She was long. She was athletic. She had this flair for being always on her toes she just looked fast she could be walking she still looks fast her body type is has always been from young till till now. What has it meant to the young people in your clubs right now seeing Gabby Williams reach this height? They're ecstatic they They don't. I mean, we can talk about a defensive setup and they'd be like, like Gabby. Yeah, I want you to like Gabby. And then, you know, if you have a mid jumper like Gabby, you know, I mean, it's it's kind of like the recipe. Like they say, what can I do that? I can I can be like Gabby. So to me, it's really easy coming into practice and I'm getting the same energy. I mean, last week's practice, I told my girls, listen, I need your energy today. Because I need to feel it so I can bring it. Because I'm going to the game, and I want to bring that energy. And that next generation of players that we are seeing coming up. And, Coach, what an incredible moment. Congratulations. Thank you. Sticking with it, too, for not just Gabby Williams, but also for all these other young women who are coming up through basketball. We appreciate you coming into our studios. I hope you have a great time. You're going to be, I'm sure, part of that parade excitement coming to San Francisco. Whatever. What he wants me to do is what I'll do. But, yeah, I want to share and just absorb and take it all in and just enjoy the moment because it's just wonderful. Well deserved. Thank you so much. We have Chief Alfonso Ju, Coach Fonz, as I know you're called, who coached Gabby Williams as a child. And, boy, what a great moment for basketball in the Bay Area. Thanks for being with us. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Yeah, and thank you, Coach, for what you do, especially for all those young girls. That was beautiful, yeah. All right, a quick reminder that you can catch the championship parade of your Golden State Valkyries Wednesday at 10 a.m. here on KTVU and on the Fox Local app.