Diaz achieves dream with Rotary title

For almost six years, Garapan Rollers coach Joe Diaz has been spending countless hours developing the basketball skills of youth cagers.

All that hard work paid off Friday night as Diaz led his G-Rollers I team to its first-ever Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League title.

This, after falling out of contention early in the playoffs during previous years and a stunning lost in last year’s championship game.

“Oh man, when we lost that, I just wanted to get back and start going for it again,” Diaz said shortly after the G-Rollers defeated the San Antonio Sixers, 87-79, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. “We learned a lot and just went back to working hard and now this is what it’s all about. I’ve been dreaming about this, and now it’s finally a reality.”

Diaz compared his team last year that went undefeated until its loss in the finals, and this year’s team that lost its first game of the season before winning everything else.

“I think last year, we had a stronger team, but the team this year, everyone contributed. I think that was the biggest key for us. Everyone was involved and did their part, and I think after coming very close but losing last year, the boys were just very hungry,” he said. “We all did not want a repeat of what happened last year.”

Diaz said his focus throughout the entire season was all on the fundamentals of the game, and recognized the assistance of CNMI national coach Elias Rangamar.

“Elias is like a mentor, and I learned a lot from him,” Diaz said. “The whole year, we worked on fundamentals, passing the ball, and spacing on the court. Team work wins and I’m happy my boys were able to understand.”

Diaz also credited the Sixers for a hard-fought match.

“Those guys gave us a hard time,” he said. “We knew going into the game that it would not be easy because we know these guys. Since the Village League [14-and-under Island-wide Village Youth Basketball League] it had always been us and the Sixers. They’re a good team and I give them a lot of credit.”

Members of the G-Rollers I team are Vince Teregeyo, Joemar Tumaquip, Kevin Aldan, Allan Moses, Robert Naraja, Keoni Chariton, Ivan Devero, Pete Iguel, Guy Mosley, Jon Ada, Nate Mateo, Jayvan Tarkong, and J.P. Pangelinan.

Meanwhile, Diaz also expressed his happiness with the effort of the G-Rollers II squad, which finished in third place after beating the Chalan Kanoa Saints, 75-74.

“To have two G-Rollers teams in the Top 3, that’s something that I’m really happy about,” he said.