TheVelezes

In the Finals of the Puerto Rico Junior Category, the Bucaplaa Pumas of Guaynabo beat the Villa Carolina LIBAPEC Club 75-72 Thursday evening. This is the first game of a possible three-game series.

For the winners, 6'10" Jorge Bryan Díaz scored 25 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, Javier González (N.C. State) scored 15, Notre Dame Prep alum (and USF frosh) Gaby Belardo scored 12 and Andrés Torres (Hartford) scored 10.

For Villa Carolina, Félix Verdejo scored 23, José López 14 and Hiram López 11.

The second game will be played on Saturday, August 16 at 5:30 PM. if there's need for a third and decisive game, it will be played on Sunday at 1:00 PM

:smoothcriminal:

Aceinthehole

Velez - Any idea what CCSU alum Javier Mojica is going to do next?

He made the PR national team, that just lost in the FIBA finals and failed to qualify for the '08 Olympics.

charliemike

Torres is a feisty little son of a ***** ... I like the way he plays.

Drew VT 6

Where are the games being played? I'm staying in San Juan on business and I'd love to check 'em out in my free time.

TheVelezes

Tomorrow's game (Saturday the 16th) will be played at Guillermo Angulo Coliseum in Carolina at 5:30 in the afternoon. Mapquest doesn't work in the island, so get a guide to drive you there.

http://www.meetpuertorico.com/search/info.asp?pkid=1403

TheVelezes

Javier Mojica played very well during the season, averaging 16.3 pts., 5.6 rbs. and 4.6 assists for the Fajardo club of the Puerto Rico Superior League. He was added to the roster of the Puerto Rico National team at the very last minute.

Against Slovenia, Mojica came from the bench and scored 9 points (including two three-pointers) in 15 minutes of play. PR won that game 80-71 in a big upset.

He recently signed as an import player for AZS Koszalin of the Polish League.

Drew VT 6

Google maps works. Thanks for the info...even though I had to work and couldn't catch the game.

TheVelezes

BUCAPLAA Club wins the Puerto Rico Junior Championships with a very inspired game from 6'10" Jorge Bryan Díaz. He averaged 23 pts., 18 rbs. and 6 blocks during the series. He was named MVP.

Remember his name. He may be playing a post-graduate year this Fall, and word is that he will go to New England. He's still skinny, but he has that Dirk Nowitzki game (but Jorge rebounds!).

Díaz was awesome in the final game, with 21 pts., 19 rbs. and 5 blocks.

TheVelezes

Here's the article on the final game. Unfortunately, it's in Spanish.

http://www.vocero.com/noticias.asp?s=Deportes&n=117268

bingbearcats

I hate Torres

And I wish we had a player like that at Binghamton.

South End

I remember a Hartford assistant telling me this past spring that the Hawks were very involved in recruiting Diaz. Do you know if this is still true? At one point he told me to expect a signing. Then he told me Diaz was going to prep...

TheVelezes

Really? Mmmm... Well, Díaz has not had the best orientation. He sat out one year after graduation because he was going to sign a pro offer with Fuenlabrada of the Spanish League. He backed out at the last minute and any college offer out there banished.

He is a very shy individual that lives with his mom. I hope he goes Prep and makes the best of it.

TheVelezes

However...could a 600 score in the SAT get you anywhere? Word is that Nebraska is really interested in Jorge Bryan Díaz. Stay tuned...

Curteous One

It sounds like Jorge Diaz might be coming to Nebraska. It also sounds like there is a hurdle in getting him admitted. Hopefully the kinks get worked out. Can one of you post a link to a video or give us any more information about him. We do not have a true center for the following year, so we are all excited about this guy. Feel free to check out a board about Husker hoops. www.Huskerhoopscentral.com

Thanks.

ccd494

Here's an off topic question. PR sends teams to the Olympics, should they win a gold, would they play the Star Spangled Banner? Or is there a Puerto Rican anthem?