Brothers beat GTE 80-69

Ed “Jordan” Diaz scored 31 points Monday night to lead defending champions Team Brothers to an 80-69 victory over GTE Pacifica during a game sponsored by the Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Brothers had a 10 point lead over GTE at half time 40-30 with Ed Diaz and Jess “The Hustler” Dela Cruz making 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Coming into the second half, Brothers once again started another rally on a 6 point-run with 18 minutes remaining in the ball game. Jerome Ierome (1) and Jess Dela Cruz (2) earned technical fouls for delaying the game and unsportsmanlike conduct.

With 9 minutes remaining in the ball game, Jess Dela Cruz fouled out. Brothers’ key players Ed Diaz, Jay Moreshita, Steve Rasa, and Jerome Ierome –– all in foul trouble –– coach Pat Tudela sent in his back-up players Darren Butteris, Jeff Diaz, Tom Diaz, Dennis Camacho, and Tom Tudela to the rescue. Ed Diaz was given a rest with 7 minutes remaining in the clock.

GTE Pacifica coach Tony Sablan capitalized on the foul troubles, reducing the deficit 1 point to 65-64. However, with 3:45 minutes remaining, coach Pat Tudela once again relied on his star player Ed Diaz to deliver the needed shots and indeed Diaz didn’t turned down Tudela’s request and gave the Brothers the victory.

Ed Diaz finished with 31 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 3-point shots, and 9 rebounds and was chosen the Player of the Game.

Dennis Camacho had 8 points, 1 assist, 3 steals, and 22 rebounds. Mark Wallace, having a night off, had 26 points, dishing out 3 assists, 1 block shot, 2 steals, 3 rebounds, and 3 3-pointers. Ed Cosino also helped out GTE with 14 points, 1 assist, 1 block shot, 6 rebounds, l steal in a losing cause.

If Brothers remain undefeated for the remaining of the regular season, they will be the Pennant Champions and we might see BANMI history repeat itself. The only team that had two undefeated season in the BANMI and were crowned as Pennant Champs was the 1995-1996 Toyota Wheels coached by Tony Sablan of the GTE Pacifica and assisted by Abner Venus.

Meanwhile, George Poquiz and Allan Libria combined for 28 points with 15 and 13, respectively, to beat Get Covered in the first game.

Mark Rozic and John Raulerson grabbed 10 and 7 rebounds, respectively, for the winners. Len’s Bar & Grill led 10 points before the start of the game due to penalty slapped to Get Covered. Rozic also dished out 3 assists.

John Acosta and Jun Aaron had 17 and 6 points, respectively, in a losing cause. Tim Wesley had 10 points, 1 block shot, and 2 steals, while Derrick Reyes also grabbed 10 rebounds with 4 steals for the losers.

The 10-point penalty rule was the key factor for Len’s Bar & Grill’s victory.

Next game schedule:

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999

1st game: Ol’Aces vs Diamond Auto Care

2nd game: Lite vs Lens Bar & Grill