Pitman point guard Diaz worked hard for CCC MVP

Jando Diaz trusted a tried-and-true blueprint – “How to play like a champion.”

If he put in the time on the practice court and the weight room, sacrificing his off-season and downtime in the process, the Pitman boys basketball program would reap the rewards.

All the rewards, too.

The Pride were the big winners at the Central California Conference’s year-end coaches meeting, earning two major awards to go along with a share of the conference crown.

Diaz was named CCC MVP after leading Pitman in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. He credited a six-day-a-week workout regimen for his success.

“It represents all of the time I’ve put in. The work finally paid off in a reward as important as this one,” said Diaz, who hopes to play at the collegiate level. He lists Portland State, Point Loma Nazarene, Azusa Pacific and UC Merced as desired destinations.

“There are some good players in this league, like Habib (Velasquez of Turlock) and A.J. Stewart (of Merced), but I knew the time and work I put in would give me a shot.”

Head coach Harvey Marable shared the Coach of the Year honors with Turlock’s Doug Cornfoot.

The Pride and Bulldogs finished tied atop the CCC standings at 8-2 and split their season series. Pitman edged Turlock on the regular season’s final day to force the title share.

In a strange twist of fate, a rubber match was scheduled by the Sac-Joaquin Section’s playoff seeding committee.

The rivals were pitted against one another in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I play-in game, with the winner advancing to play top-seeded Folsom. Pitman won in overtime, 72-69.

Diaz had 23 points, 10 rebounds and two assists, delivering a performance worthy of the MVP award.

He did admit that an MVP award without a conference title wouldn’t have been as satisfying.

“It’s enhanced by the fact that we won the CCC,” Diaz said. “The MVP award is an individual accolade. If I was to get (the MVP) without winning league it wouldn’t have been as great.”

Diaz averaged 17.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals. He had four conference games of 20 or more points.

“As a player, I do whatever is needed,” Diaz said. “If a coach was to tell me, you’re running the post. ‘All right, coach, I’m running the post.’

“If I was to play point guard, my first look is to get others a shot. Sometimes, though, a point guard has to step up and knock down the occasional shot when we need it.”

Diaz was joined on the first team by teammate Isaiah Marable. Turlock had two first-team selections in Oscar Moreno and Velasquez. Merced’s Jared Pazin and A.J. Stewart, and Atwater’s Kyle Anaya and Reggie Ricks filled out the first team.

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Pitman point guard Diaz worked hard for CCC MVP."