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Baloncesto Superior Nacional facts for kids

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Baloncesto Superior Nacional
Baloncesto Superior Nacional.png
Founded 1929; 95 years ago (1929)
First season 1930 (as LPB)
Country Puerto Rico
Confederation FIBA Americas
Number of teams 12
Level on pyramid 1
International cup(s) Champions League Americas
Current champions Gigantes de Carolina
(1 title)
Most championships Vaqueros de Bayamón
(16 titles)
All-time top scorer Georgie Torres (15,863)
TV partners Telemundo Puerto Rico
DirecTV Puerto Rico
2024 BSN season

The Baloncesto Superior Nacional, abbreviated as BSN, is the first-tier-level professional men's basketball league in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1929 and is organized by the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation.

The Baloncesto Superior Nacional, which is played under FIBA rules, currently consists of 12 teams, of which the most successful has been the Vaqueros de Bayamón with 16 titles as of 2022.

The league has produced players that have distinguished themselves in the NBA, EuroLeague, Spain's ACB, and other tournaments throughout the world. Among them, Georgie Torres was the first Puerto Rican to sign an NBA contract & Butch Lee was the first BSN player to win an NBA title. Later on came players like José Ortiz, Ramón Rivas, Daniel Santiago, Carlos Arroyo and J. J. Barea, who were other NBA players that started their careers playing for BSN teams.

Competition format

The BSN games are played under the regular FIBA basketball rules. The twelve teams each play a total of four games amongst themselves, two at home and two away, for a total of 44 games during the regular season. Of the 12 participating teams, the top 8 move on to the postseason.

History

The league began in 1930, and is noted for having had several head coaches who went on to achieve international recognition later in their careers. Among those are Basketball Hall of Fame members Dr. Jack Ramsay, Tex Winter and Red Holzman, who coached the Leones de Ponce in the 1950s and 1960s, and Phil Jackson, who coached the Piratas de Quebradillas and Gallitos de Isabela in the late 1980s. Others notable coaches who have worked for BSN teams include Gene Bartow, Lou Rossini, Del Harris, P. J. Carlesimo, Bernie Bickerstaff, Herb Brown and Sergio Hernández.

During the 1980s, notable players followed in the footsteps of players such as Juan "Pachin" Vicens (1959 Santiago Chile FIBA World Championship's All-Tournament Team) and Butch Lee, the first Puerto Rican and BSN player to enter the NBA. Among those are: Mario 'Quijote' Morales, Raymond Dalmau, Jose 'Piculin' Ortiz, Ramón Rivas, Jerome Mincy, Georgie Torres, Angelo Cruz, Angel Santiago, the late Federico 'Fico' Lopez, Rolando Frazer, Mario Butler, and Rubén Rodríguez, who showcased their talents to all of Puerto Rico's TV viewers and game goers.

New Era 2019-present

On September 19, 2019, the BSN team owners selected Ricardo Dalmau Santana to succeed Fernando Quiñones Bodea as president of the league.

In October 2020, there was a change in ownership with the Vaqueros de Bayamón with retired pro baseball player Yadier Molina purchasing his hometown team outright. In April 2021, the league approved the return of the Cangrejeros under the ownership of Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda, who were later joined by urban artist Bad Bunny the following month. In October 2022 the Osos de Manatí returned from hiatus, when local Puerto Rican singer Ozuna had purchase the Brujos de Guayama and relocated the team to Manati.

In game 1 of the 2023 BSN finals, LeBron James made a surprise appearance as the Gigantes defeated the Vaqueros, 89-85, in overtime to take a 1-0 series lead. On July 27 2023, the Gigantes De Carolina defeated the Bayamon Vaqueros 80-60 in Game 5 of the BSN Finals, to become the 2023 BSN Champions.

Current teams

Team Home city Year established Arena Capacity
Atléticos de San Germán San Germán 1930 Arquelio Torres Ramírez Coliseum
5,000
Cangrejeros de Santurce Santurce 1918 Roberto Clemente Coliseum
9,000
Capitanes de Arecibo Arecibo 1946 Manuel Iguina Coliseum
12,000
Criollos de Caguas Caguas 2023* Coliseo Roger Mendoza
3,000
Santeros de Aguada Aguada 1992 Ismael Delgado Coliseum
6,000
Gigantes de Carolina Carolina 1971 Guillermo Angulo Coliseum
5,000
Indios de Mayagüez Mayagüez 1956 Palacio de Recreación y Deportes
5,500
Leones de Ponce Ponce 1946 Juan Pachín Vicéns Auditorium
11,000
Mets de Guaynabo Guaynabo 1935 Mario Morales Coliseum
5,500
Osos de Manatí Manatí 2014 Juan Cruz Abreu Coliseum
8,000
Piratas de Quebradillas Quebradillas 1926 Raymond Dalmau Coliseum
5,500
Vaqueros de Bayamón Bayamón 1930 Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum
12,000

Defunct teams

  • Atenienses de Manatí (2014–2017); played their home games at the Juan Cruz Abreu Coliseum
  • Avancinos de Villalba (1996–1998); played their home games at the José Ibem Marrero Coliseum
  • Conquistadores de Aguada (1994–1998)
  • Gallitos de Isabela; played their home games at the Jose Abreu Coliseum
  • Grises de Humacao (2005–2023); Marcelo Trujillo Panisse Coliseum
  • Indios de Canóvanas; played their home games at Coliseo Carlos Miguel Mangual
  • Maratonistas de Coamo (1985–1996, 1999–2015); played their home games at Edwin "Puruco" Nolasco Coliseum
  • Polluelos de Aibonito (1977–2001); played their home games at Cancha Marron Aponte
  • Taínos de Cabo Rojo (1989–1993); played their home games at Rebekah Colberg Cabrera Coliseum
  • Tiburones de Aguadilla (1990s–1998); played their home games at the Luis T. Diaz Coliseum
  • Titanes de Morovis (1977–2006); played their home games in the José Pepe Huyke Coliseum
  • Toritos de Cayey (2002–2004); played their home games at the Cayey Municipal Coliseum

Championships

Number of championships won by teams

Teams Finals Championships Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
Vaqueros de Bayamón 26 16 10 1933, 1935, 1967, 1969, 1971,
1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981,
1988, 1995, 1996, 2009, 2020, 2022
1930, 1934, 1970, 2001, 2002,
2005, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023
Atléticos de San Germán 26 14 12 1932, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942,
1942-1943, 1947, 1948, 1949,
1950, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1997
1931, 1933, 1936*, 1938*, 1940,
1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1965,
1986, 2022
Leones de Ponce 25 14 11 1952, 1954, 1960, 1961, 1964,
1965, 1966, 1990, 1992, 1993,
2002, 2004, 2014, 2015
1949, 1958, 1963, 1967, 1989,
1995, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2013, 2019
Cangrejeros de Santurce 14 8 6 1962, 1968, 1998, 1999, 2000,
2001, 2003, 2007
1942, 1942–1943, 1951, 1952,
1964, 2006
Capitanes de Arecibo 19 8 11 1959, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2021 1932, 1946, 1948, 1961, 1966,
1992, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017
Cardenales de Río Piedras 15 6 9 1946, 1955, 1956, 1957,1963,
1976
1941, 1947, 1959, 1960, 1962,
1968, 1969, 1971, 1977
Piratas de Quebradillas 18 6 12 1970, 1977, 1978, 1979, 2013, 2017 1937, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976,
1980, 1982, 1999, 2000, 2009,
2011, 2020
Capitalinos de San Juan 9 5 4 1930, 1931, 1940, 1945, 1958 1943, 1944, 1950, 1974
Mets de Guaynabo 10 3 7 1980, 1982, 1989 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1990,
1993, 2021
Vega Baja 4 2 2 1934, 1937 1935, 1939
Gallitos de la UPR 3 2 1 1944, 1951 1945
Indios de Canóvanas 3 2 1 1983, 1984 1988
Club Náutico San Juan 1 1 0 1936
Polluelos de Aibonito 2 1 1 1986 1987
Titanes de Morovis 1 1 0 1987
Criollos de Caguas 1 1 0 2006
Indios de Mayagüez 1 1 0 2012
Santeros de Aguada 1 1 0 2019 -
Gigantes de Carolina 4 1 3 2023 1979, 1997, 2008
Brujos de Guayama 2 0 2 1991, 1994
Gallitos de Isabela 1 0 1 1984
Maratonistas de Coamo 1 0 1 2004
  • *These titles are from Farmacia Martin, a team that later merged with the Atléticos de San Germán

BSN awards and leaders

League records

Rubén Rodríguez established most of the early long-standing records in the BSN. He broke both the single-season points record with 810 in 1978 and the highest career points record with 11,549. The current holder of the career mark is Georgie Torres, who broke it before retiring in 2001 with 15,863 points in 679 games, playing his first 7 years before the establishment of the three-point line. Rodríguez also holds the mark for most rebounds in a career with 6,178. He also held the single-season rebound record with 380 in 1978, which stood until Lee Benson broke it in 2008. Currently, Neftalí Rivera holds the record for most points in a game in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional when he scored 79 points on May 22, 1974. In that game he achieved the record by making 34 field goals (all of them 2-pointers as 3-pointers were not adopted back then) and 11 free throws. In 1989, Pablo Alicea of the Gigantes de Carolina established a record for most assists in one game with 25. The record stood for over two decades until May 1, 2012, when Jonathan García of the Caciques de Humacao broke it recording 33 assists against the Brujos de Guayama. García's mark is an unofficial world record pending the approval of Guinness World Records, since there is no higher number recorded in any amateur or professional international league or in FIBA competition. During this game, the Caciques also established the team points record for a single game with 130 and for most scored during a single (10-minute) quarter with 46. The Vaqueros de Bayamón hosted the game with highest attendance in the league, with 17,621 fans attending a home game against Río Piedras on September 8, 1969. This bested the previous top of 16,564 in a game between Ponce and Santurce. The Vaqueros also hold the record for most consecutive championships, winning five from 1971 to 1975.

BSN statistical leaders

^ Active player
* Inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame

BSN all-time scoring leaders

Rank Player Position(s) Nationality Years Total points Games
played
Points
per game
average
1
Torres, GeorgieGeorgie Torres
SG
 Puerto Rico 1975–2001
15,863
679
23.4
2
Morales, MarioMario Morales
SF
 Puerto Rico 1975–1998
15,293
675
22.7
3
Butler, MarioMario Butler
C
 Panama 1980–2008
12,252
779
15.7
4
Rolando Frazer
C
 Panama 1980–2001
12,096
603
20.1
5
Dalmau, RaymondRaymond Dalmau
PG
 Puerto Rico 1966–1985
11,592
537
21.6
6
Rodríguez, RubénRubén Rodríguez
PF
 Puerto Rico 1969–1991
11,549
631
18.3
7
Roberto Ríos
PG
 Puerto Rico 1978–2000
11,312
681
16.6
8
Ángel Santiago
SF
 Puerto Rico 1973–1996
11,287
617
18.3
9
José Quiñonez
PF
 Puerto Rico  ??–??
11,012
579
19
10
Christian Dalmau
PG
 Puerto Rico 1992–2003, 2009–2017
10,570
639
16.5

BSN all-time rebounding leaders

Rank Player Pos Years Reb GP RPG
1
Mario Butler
C
1980–2008 8,236 779 10.6
2
Rubén Rodríguez
F/C
1969–1991 6,178 631 9.8
3
Rolando Frazer
C
1980–2001 6,153 603 10.2
4
Raymond Dalmau
F/C
1966–1985 5,673 537 10.6
5
Mario Morales
G/F
1975–1998 5,665 675 8.4
6
José Ortíz
C
1980–2006 5,314 505 10.5
7
Carlos Bermúdez
F
1970–1984 4,884 422 11.6
8
Edgar de León
F/C
1981–2001 4,837 493 9.8
9
Teófilo Cruz*
C
1957–1982 4,672 584 8
10
Angel Santiago
F
1973–1996 4,447 617 7.2

BSN all-time assists leaders

Rank Player Position(s) Years Total AST GP APG
1
James Carter
PG
1987–2006 3,025 543 5.6
2
Christian Dalmau
PG/SG
1992–2003, 2009–2017 2,931 639 4.6
3
Pablo Alicea
PG
1987–2006 2,762 503 5.5
4
Javier Antonio Colón
PG
1987–2008 2,748 555 5.0
5
Federico López
PG
1981–1997 2,440 446 5.5
6
Wilfredo Pagan
PG
1992–2018 2,367 652 3.6
7
Roberto Ríos
G/F
1978–2000 2,315 681 3.4
8
Raymond Dalmau
F/C
1966–1985 2,302 537 5.1
9
Bobby Joe Hatton
PG
1994–2012 2,235 489 4.6
10
George Torres
G/F
1975–2001 2,203 679 3.2

BSN all-time block leaders

Rank Player Position(s) Nationality Total blocks Games
played
Blocks
per game
average
1
Penn, KleonKleon Penn
C
 Puerto Rico
British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands
755
300
2
Jeffrion Aubry
C
 Puerto Rico
642
3
Ramos, Peter JohnPeter John Ramos
C
 Puerto Rico
527
4
Lee, CarmeloCarmelo Lee
SF
 Puerto Rico
414
5
Diaz, Jorge BrianJorge Brian Diaz
C
 Puerto Rico
314
6
Richards, JaJaJaJa Richards
C
 United States Virgin Islands
314
7
Hernández, Luis 'PelaCoco'Luis 'PelaCoco' Hernández
C/F
 Puerto Rico
295
8
Sanchéz, RicardoRicardo Sanchéz
C/PF
 Puerto Rico
278
9
Davis, NathanaelNathanael Davis
C
 United States
268
10
Dyer, AlphonseAlphonse Dyer
C
 United States
255

Last Updated July 26, 2023

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Baloncesto Superior Nacional para niños

  • Puerto Rico national basketball team
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