Mets de Guaynabo (basketball)

Mets de Guaynabo are a Puerto Rican professional basketball team based in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The Mets compete in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) as a member of the league's B Division. Founded in 1935 as the original Cangrejeros of Santurce franchise, the team relocated to Guaynabo in 1976 and became the Guaynabo Mets. The Mets play their home games at Mario Morales Coliseum, named after Mario "Quijote" Morales, who led the team to its three championships during the 1980s. The Mets also reached the BSN finals in 1991 and 1993, losing both times to the Leones of Ponce.The team dissolved in 2015, but was reinstated with new ownership in 2019.[1]

Mets de Guaynabo
Mets de Guaynabo logo
LeagueBaloncesto Superior Nacional
Founded1935
HistoryCangrejeros de Santurce
(1935–1976)
Mets de Guaynabo
(1976–2015; 2019–present)
ArenaMario Morales Coliseum
LocationGuaynabo, Puerto Rico
Team colorsNavy blue, white, red
     
Head coachJ. J. Barea
OwnershipMarc D. Grossman
Mark Linder
Championships3 (1980, 1982, 1989)
Websitehttps://metsbasketball.com/

The 2020 season ended with a 2–1 series loss in the semifinals to the Vaqueros of Bayamón for the new Mets franchise.

The Mets followed up the semifinal appearance in 2020 with a surprise trip to the finals in the 2021 season, where they eventually lost to the Capitanes of Arecibo.

The 2022 season ended with the Mets missing the playoffs for the first time since returning to the BSN.

In 2023, the Mets made the playoffs and were considered one of the best teams in the league, but eventually lost to the Gigantes of Carolina (4-3), who managed to beat the Mets after going down 3–2.

Early history

The Mets were coached by legendary National Team and Olympic Coach Julio Toro and were a force in Puerto Rican basketball during the 1980s. With such players as Fico Lopez, Mario Morales, José Sosa, Earl Brown, Jose Santos, Gustavo Santos, Papiro Leon, Papote Agosto and many more, the Mets won championships in 1980, 1982 and 1989, while reaching the finals in 1981, 1983, and 1985. They reached the playoffs every year during that decade.

The Mets were able to acquire Jose and Gustavo Santos from the Rio Piedras Cardinals whom they had defeated the previous year in the Superior Basketball league semi finals. 5 players for two arguably the largest trade in PR basketball history. The Mets were reborn with the Santos trade and looked to their minor league for future stars Papiro Leon, Fico Lopez, Papote Agosto. So dominant and young was this team, that a dynasty was born, the Mets reached the finals in 4 consecutive years winning two championships. All of their players were below the age of 25, with teenagers shoring up the bench. The Puerto Rican Basketball Federation had to break up this team by introducing a draft and new rule that a team can only protect "6" players thus breaking up the powerful Mets. Lopez and Morales, who were also brothers in law as Morales married Lopez's sister, famous volleyball player Eva Lopez, formed a formidable duo on the court, with Lopez playing point guard and Morales forward. They became Puerto Rican basketball legends.

Even though the team was not active in the league from 2015 to 2019, many other sports teams in Guaynabo, from baseball to volleyball, have assumed the Mets name.

Return as an expansion team

On November 22, 2019, league officials announced the first expansion team since 1993 would be established in the San Juan area.[2][3] Owners Marc Grossman and Mark Linder initially eyed Roberto Clemente Coliseum as the home court for their new team, but San Juan's Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz expressed concerns the team wouldn't be able to play a full season at the venue due to previously scheduled events.[4] Grossman and Linder then decided to revive the Mets de Guaynabo, five years after the original team left Guaynabo.[5][6]

The team reintroduced themselves on December 17, 2019, in a press conference with Grossman, former Puerto Rico national basketball team general manager Alfredo “Piraña” Morales, Guaynabo Mayor Angel Perez Otero, and BSN President Ricardo Dalmau.[5][7] During the press conference, team officials revealed the new team, the league's tenth, signed its first free agent, Angel Alamo.[7] Alamo was a 34-year-old forward who had played previously for the Mets in 2012 and 2013.[5][8] The team also selected four players in an expansion draft on November 22, 2019, and received the 11th pick in the January 15, 2020 draft.[7][4]

Grossman and Linder hired Puerto Rico national basketball team general manager Alfredo “Piraña” Morales to be the Mets' general manager.[5][9] Prior to the 2020 season, Grossman pursued former NBA All Star Metta World Peace to be the Mets' head coach.[10][6] The team was also considering former NBA All Star Charles Oakley, Paco Olmos, Allans Colón, and Carlos Calcaño.[11] In December 2019, World Peace held tryouts for the team in Los Angeles, but was not officially named coach.[12]

Isaiah Austin, a former Baylor University basketball star who played professionally for teams in China and Lebanon since 2017, signed with the Mets in December 2019 as one of their three import players allowed as an expansion team.[12][11]

Team

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Mets de Guaynabo roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
PG 1 Puerto Rico Mauras, Khary 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 25 – (1998-01-23)January 23, 1998
G/F 4 Puerto Rico Crawford, E.J. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 25 – (1998-04-04)April 4, 1998
G 6 Puerto Rico Paige, Jaysean 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 29 – (1994-07-30)July 30, 1994
SF 7 Puerto Rico Martinez, William 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 25 – (1998-07-29)July 29, 1998
SF 8 Puerto Rico Branch, Onzie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 32 – (1991-10-08)October 8, 1991
G 10 Puerto Rico Han, Francis Jonathan 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 36 – (1987-01-14)January 14, 1987
SG 11 Puerto Rico Martinez, Wil 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 31 – (1992-06-02)June 2, 1992
C 12 Brazil Soares, Tim (I) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 26 – (1997-02-04)February 4, 1997
SG 13 Puerto Rico Miranda, Jermaine 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 22 – (2001-03-17)March 17, 2001
G 14 Puerto Rico Browne, Gary 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 30 – (1993-03-24)March 24, 1993
C 15 United States Cousins, DeMarcus (I) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (120 kg) 33 – (1990-08-13)August 13, 1990
PF 20 Puerto Rico Orozco, William 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 38 – (1985-09-04)September 4, 1985
F 32 Puerto Rico Balkman, Renaldo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 39 – (1984-07-14)July 14, 1984
F 33 Uruguay Medina, Octavio 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 27 – (1996-02-15)February 15, 1996
G/F 55 Australia Creek, Mitch (I) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 31 – (1992-04-27)April 27, 1992
F/C 77 Puerto Rico Alamo, Ángel 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 38 – (1985-06-09)June 9, 1985
Head coach
  • Puerto Rico Omar Gonzalez
Assistant coach(es)
  • Puerto Rico Alvin Cruz
  • Belize Milt Palacio
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DC) Dual citizenship
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C DeMarcus Cousins Tim Soares Ángel Alamo
PF Mitch Creek Octavio Medina William Orozco
SF Onzie Branch E.J. Crawford Renaldo Balkman
SG Jermaine Miranda Khary Mauras William Martinez
PG Jaysean Paige Gary Browne Jonathan Francis Han

Notable players

References
  1. Loza, Jorge Figueroa (18 December 2019). El Nuevo Dia https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/baloncesto/nota/porquevalelapenainvertirenelbsnelempresarioestadounidensemarcgrossmanlotieneclaro-2535849/. Retrieved 9 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Alfredo Morales: "Garantizo que este equipo va a competir desde el día uno"". 18 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  3. Rios, Antolin Malonado (22 November 2019). "Aprueban apoderados de una nueva franquicia de expansión en el BSN". El Nueva Dia. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  4. Torraca, Hiram Alberto (23 November 2019). "Carmen Yulín Cruz evaluará regreso del BSN a San Juan". Primera Hora. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  5. "Guaynabo Mets do not rule out signing American leader". Telemundo Puerto Rico. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  6. Torraca, Hiram Alberto (17 December 2019). "Los Mets de Guaynabo tienen cinco candidatos para la plaza de dirigente". Primera Hora. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  7. "Guaynabo presenta el regreso de sus Mets". 17 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  8. "Los nuevos Mets del BSN firman al delantero Ángel Álamo". 8 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  9. Perez, Yamaira Muniz (17 December 2019). "Aires campeoniles en los nuevos Mets de Guaynabo". El Vocero. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  10. Loza, Jorge Figueroa (18 December 2019). "Former NBA player and coach Metta World Peace among candidates to lead Guaynabo Mets". Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  11. Rivera, Joel Ortiz (30 December 2019). "Activos los Mets de Guaynabo". Primera Hora. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  12. Loza, Jorge Figueroa (29 December 2019). "Metta World Peace reveals link with the Guaynabo Mets". Retrieved 9 January 2020.
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