The Baloncesto Superior Nacional or BSN (lit. "National Superior Basketball") is the main Puerto Rican men's basketball league. It currently has 10 teams, but has had many teams in several cities of the island. The league was established in 1929. It has produced players that have distinguished themselves in the NBA, European Leagues, and other leagues. Also most of the players in the Puerto Rico men's national basketball team are playing in the league.
For the 2011 season will began the 31st of May[1], each team will play 30 games in a single table format. The regular season is followed by a Playoff with the best 8 teams divided in two groups based on regular season standings (1 vs 8,4 vs 5, 2 vs 7,and 3 vs 6). The teams will play series the best of seven. The season concludes with the finals, here two teams compete in the best of seven games.
The Vaqueros de Bayamón are the current leaders in all time championships with fourteen. The Atléticos de San Germán have fourteen, and the Leones de Ponce have twelve.
History[]
The BSN was a struggling league economically until the 1980s, when, with Genaro 'Tuto' Marchand as President, an explosion of basketball popularity happened all over Puerto Rico. Basketball overtook baseball as the Puerto Rican fans' second favorite sport after boxing at that time.
The fact that WAPA-TV Channel 4 transmitted six games a week for the whole island to see, was a major contributor to this change in popularity. These games were shown Sundays at 2 p.m., Sundays at 9 p.m., Wednesday nights at 9, Friday nights at 9, and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and at 9 p.m.
During that time, other legends followed in the footsteps of Juan "Pachin" Vicens (Named Greatest Basketball Player in the World at the Basketball World Championship, held in Santiago, Chile, 1959). Among those younger stars, various bright stars soon emerged, such as Mario 'Quijote' Morales, Raymond Dalmau, Jose 'Piculin' Ortiz, Ramon Rivas, Jerome Mincy, Georgie Torres, Angelo Cruz, Angel Santiago, the late Federico 'Fico' Lopez and Rubén Rodríguez showcased their talents to all of Puerto Rico's TV viewers and game goers.
After Hetin Reyes took the league over there were economic problems, but in part this is due to the rise in the cost of living. Nevertheless, the league continues to operate with 13 franchises but is looking at the future with optimism.
Currently, the leagues games are showcased on Puerto Rico's TUTV television channel.
Although some conssesions have been made, even offering Santurce fans free rides on the Tren Urbano train system so that they can attend away games at Bayamón, the league continued suffering monetary loss in 2005, and the basketball tournament was drastically reduced to only nine competing teams. In order to try to attract more fans to the venues in which the tournament is being played.
For the 2007 Season, the Morovis team moved to Fajardo and two teams joined back the league, Mayagüez Indians and Carolina Giants.
2008-present[]
Prior to the inauguration of the 2008 season, Henry Neumann resigned as president and entered politics. Felix "Felo" Rivera, then owner of the Criollos de Caguas, was selected to succeed him. Rivera debuted as president on September 22, 2007, when he presided over a meeting with most of the league's staff and other members of the sports community in Puerto Rico.[2] The meeting extended to ten hours and served primarily as a ceremony to officially present him as the BSN president.[2] Several changes to the league's rules were discussed, with two being adopted. The first one being a 50% penalty to franchises with payrolls larger than the $500,000 cap.[2] This had been approved before in 2004 and only Santurce and Ponce failed to stay under the salary cap, however it was abandoned following the conclusion of that season. The main difference was that, with the new rule, the money that the league received with the penalty would be awarded to teams that didn't go over the cap.[2] The second rule approved was that restrictions on second "reinforcement" players were dropped, noting that the quality of immigrant players was supposed to rise.[2] In the meeting, the league announced that the 2008 tournament would begin on March 1, 2008, earlier than in previous years. When September concluded, Miguel Laborde was replaced by Juan Trinidad as the BSN's tournament director.[2]
Teams[]
| Team | City | Colors | Arena | Founded | Coach | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitanes de Arecibo | File:Arecibo flag.gif Arecibo | Blue, Yellow |
Manuel Iguina Coliseum | 1946 | David Rosario | Current Champion. |
| Vaqueros de Bayamón | File:Flag of Bayamon.svg Bayamón | Blue, White |
Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum | 1930 | Julio Toro | Tie as most championship won by any Franchise in PR with 14. |
| Mets de Guaynabo | File:Flag of Guaynabo.svg Guaynabo | Blue, Red |
Mario Morales Coliseum | 1935 | Raymond Dalmau | Has 3 Championships |
| Caciques de Humacao | File:Flag of Humacao.svg Humacao | Green, Red |
Emilio E. Huyke Coliseum | 2005 | Leonel Arill | Use to be call Grises de Humacao. |
| Gallitos de Isabela | File:Flag of Isabela.svg Isabela | Yellow, Green |
Jose "Buga" Abreu Coliseum | 1969 | Carlos Mario Rivera | Came back in 2010 after 5 years of recession. |
| Indios de Mayagüez | File:Mayaguez-flag.svg Mayagüez | Green, Red |
Palacio de Recreación y Deportes | 2003 | Eddie Casiano | Team plays half of the home games in Cabo Rojo. |
| Leones de Ponce | File:Ponce2.gif Ponce | Red, Black |
Juan Pachín Vicéns Auditorium | 1950 | Vacant | The team has 12 championships. |
| Atléticos de San Germán | File:SanGermanFlag.jpg San Germán | Orange, Black |
Arquelio Torres Ramírez Coliseum | 1932 | Nelson Colon | Tie as most championship won by any Franchise in PR with 14. |
| Cangrejeros de Santurce | File:Flag san juan pr.svg Santurce | Orange, Blue |
José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum | 1955 | Rolando Hourruitiner | Team has 8 Championships. |
| Piratas de Quebradillas | File:Quebradillasflag.jpg Quebradillas | Red, Black |
Raymond Dalmau Coliseum | 1932 | Manolo Cintron | Team has 4 Championships |
| Gigantes de Carolina | File:CarolinaFlag.jpg Carolina | Red, Black |
Guillermo Angulo Coliseum | vacant | Team it's under recession | |
| Cariduros de Fajardo | File:FajardoFlag.jpg Fajardo | Red, Blue |
Tomas Dones Coliseum | 1973 | vacant | Team it's under recession |
Championships[]
Complete list of BSN Championship winners
| Season | BSN Champion | Coach |
| 1930 | Capitalinos de San Juan | Manuel Iglesia |
| 1931 | Capitalinos de San Juan | Manuel Iglesia |
| 1932 | Atléticos de San Germán | Ubladino Ramirez |
| 1933 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Onofre Carballeira |
| 1934 | Vega Baja | Rodrigo 'Guigo' Otero |
| 1935 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Onofre Carballeira |
| 1936 | Vega Baja | Rodrigo 'Guigo' Otero |
| 1937 | Vega Baja | Rodrigo 'Guigo' Otero |
| 1938 | Atléticos de San Germán | Ubladino Ramirez |
| 1939 | Atléticos de San Germán | Felicio Torregrosa |
| 1940 | Capitalinos de San Juan | Adolfo Porrata |
| 1941 | Atléticos de San Germán | Raul Aniceto Gonzalez |
| 1942 | Atléticos de San Germán | Armando Torres |
| 1943 | Tortuguero | Arquelio Torres Ramirez |
| 1944 | University of Puerto Rico | Felicio Torregrosa |
| 1945 | Capitalinos de San Juan | Adolfo Porrata |
| 1946 | Río Piedras | Ramon 'Monchito' Cestero |
| 1947 | Atléticos de San Germán | Armando Torres |
| 1948 | Atléticos de San Germán | Victor Murati |
| 1949 | Atléticos de San Germán | Raul Gonzalez |
| 1950 | Atléticos de San Germán | Luis F. Sambolin |
| 1951 | University of Puerto Rico | Victor Mario Perez |
| 1952 | Leones de Ponce | Tex Winter |
| 1953 | cancelled | cancelled |
| 1954 | Leones de Ponce | Tex Winter |
| 1955 | Río Piedras | Victor Mario Perez |
| 1956 | Río Piedras | Victor Mario Perez |
| 1957 | Río Piedras | Victor Mario Perez |
| 1958 | Capitalinos de San Juan | Floyd Brown |
| 1959 | Capitanes de Arecibo | Lou Rossini |
| 1960 | Leones de Ponce | Howard Shamon |
| 1961 | Leones de Ponce | Jack McKenney |
| 1962 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | Fufi Santori |
| 1963 | Río Piedras | Lou Rossini |
| 1964 | Leones de Ponce | Red Holzman |
| 1965 | Leones de Ponce | Red Holzman |
| 1966 | Leones de Ponce | Red Holzman |
| 1967 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Fufi Santori /Roy Rubbins |
| 1968 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | Lou Rossini |
| 1969 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Art Loche |
| 1970 | Piratas de Quebradillas | Erick Geldart |
| 1971 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Art Loche |
| 1972 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Tom Nissalke / Fufi Santori |
| 1973 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Del Harris |
| 1974 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Del Harris |
| 1975 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Tom Nissalke / Del Harris |
| 1976 | Río Piedras | Bernie Bickerstaff |
| 1977 | Piratas de Quebradillas | Ray Amalbert |
| 1978 | Piratas de Quebradillas | Ray Amalbert |
| 1979 | Piratas de Quebradillas | Ray Amalbert |
| 1980 | Mets de Guaynabo | Julio Toro |
| 1981 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Gene Bartow / Robert Corn |
| 1982 | Mets de Guaynabo | Julio Toro |
| 1983 | Indios de Canovanas | Herb Brown |
| 1984 | Indios de Canovanas | Julio Toro |
| 1985 | Atléticos de San Germán | Flor Melendez |
| 1986 | Polluelos de Aibonito | Charlie Bermudez |
| 1987 | Titanes de Morovis | Miguel Mercado |
| 1988 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Robert Corn |
| 1989 | Mets de Guaynabo | Julio Toro |
| 1990 | Leones de Ponce | Miguel Mercado |
| 1991 | Atléticos de San Germán | Carlos Morales Matos |
| 1992 | Leones de Ponce | Julio Toro |
| 1993 | Leones de Ponce | Julio Toro |
| 1994 | Atléticos de San Germán | Carlos Morale |
| 1995 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Flor Melendez |
| 1996 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Flor Melendez |
| 1997 | Atléticos de San Germán | Miguel Mercado |
| 1998 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | Julio Toro |
| 1999 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | Julio Toro |
| 2000 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | Julio Toro |
| 2001 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | Julio Toro |
| 2002 | Leones de Ponce | Carlos Mario Rivera |
| 2003 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | Julio Toro |
| 2004 | Leones de Ponce | Manolo Cintron |
| 2005 | Capitanes de Arecibo | Carlos Mario Rivera |
| 2006 | Criollos de Caguas | Leonell Arill |
| 2007 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | Tony Ruiz |
| 2008 | Capitanes de Arecibo | David Rosario |
| 2009 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | Julio Toro |
| 2010 | Capitanes de Arecibo | David Rosario |
Number of championships won by teams[]
| Teams | Championships |
|---|---|
| Vaqueros de Bayamon | 14 (1933, 1935, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1988, 1995, 1996 y 2009). |
| Atleticos de San German | 14 (1932, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1997) |
| Leones de Ponce | 12 (1952, 1954, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2004) |
| Cangrejeros de Santurce | 8 (1962, 1968, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007) |
| Rio Piedras | 6 (1946, 1955, 1956, 1957,1963, 1976) |
| Capitalinos de SanJuan | 5 (1930, 1931, 1940, 1945, 1958) |
| Piratas de Quebradillas | 4 (1970, 1977, 1978, 1979) |
| Capitanes de Arecibo | 4 (1959. 2005, 2008, 2010) |
| Mets de Guaynabo | 3 (1980, 1982, 1989) |
| Vega Baja | 3 (1934, 1936, 1937) |
| University of Puerto Rico | 2 (1944 , 1951) |
| Indios de Canovanas | 2 (1983 , 1984) |
| Criollos de Caguas | 1 (2006) |
| Polluelos de Aibonito | 1 (1986) |
| Titanes de Morovis | 1 (1987) |
League all time Leaders[]
| Player Name | GP | PTS | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Torres | 679 | 15863 | 23.4 |
| Mario Morales | 675 | 15293 | 22.7 |
| Mario Butler | 779 | 12252 | 15.7 |
| Rolando Frazer | 603 | 12096 | 20.1 |
| Raymond Dalmau | 537 | 11592 | 21.6 |
| Ruben Rodriguez | 631 | 11549 | 18.3 |
| Roberto Rios | 681 | 11592 | 16.6 |
| Angel Santiago | 617 | 11287 | 18.3 |
| Jose Quiñonez | 579 | 11012 | 19 |
| James Carter | 543 | 10148 | 18.7 |
Template:Col-3
| Player Name | GP | OFF | DEF | REB | RPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Butler | 779 | 173 | 8063 | 8236 | 10.6 |
| Ruben Rodriguez | 631 | 0 | 6178 | 6178 | 9.8 |
| Rolando Frazer | 603 | 41 | 6112 | 6153 | 10.2 |
| Raymond Dalmau | 537 | 0 | 5673 | 5673 | 10.6 |
| Mario Morales | 675 | 0 | 5665 | 5665 | 8.4 |
| José Ortiz | 505 | 254 | 5060 | 5314 | 10.5 |
| Carlos Bermudez | 422 | 0 | 4884 | 4884 | 11.6 |
| Edgar Leon | 493 | 17 | 4820 | 4837 | 9.8 |
| Teofilo Cruz | 584 | 0 | 4672 | 4672 | 8 |
| Angel Santiago | 617 | 0 | 4447 | 4447 | 7.2 |
Template:Col-3
| Player Name | GP | AST | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Torres | 679 | 2203 | 3.2 |
| Pablo Alicea | 503 | 2762 | 5.5 |
| Javier Colon | 555 | 2748 | 5 |
| Federico Lopez | 446 | 2440 | 5.5 |
| Raymond Dalmau | 537 | 2302 | 5.1 |
| Roberto Joe Hatton | 441 | 2100 | 4.8 |
| Roberto Rios | 681 | 2315 | 3.4 |
| Wilfredo Melendez | 519 | 2115 | 4.1 |
| Orlando Santiago | 513 | 2108 | 4.1 |
| James Carter | 543 | 3025 | 5.6 |
Template:Col-3
See also[]
- Puerto Rico national basketball team
References[]
External links[]
- Official site Template:Es icon