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Puerto Rico men's national basketball team

Men's national basketball team


Men's national basketball team

FieldValue
countryPuerto Rico
typeMen
logoFlag of Puerto Rico.svg
logo_width180px
FIBA_ranking
joined_FIBA1957
FIBA_zoneFIBA Americas
national_fedPuerto Rican Basketball Federation
coachNelson Colón
nickname12 Magníficos
Los Gallos
oly_appearances10
wc_appearances15
zone_championshipFIBA AmeriCup
zone_appearances19
zone_medals[[File:Gold medal america.svg16px]] (1980, 1989, 1995)
[[File:Silver medal america.svg16px]] (1988, 1993, 1997, 2009, 2013)
[[File:Bronze medal (Americas).svg16px]] (2003, 2007)
zone2_championshipPan American Games
zone2_appearances16
zone2_medals(1991, 2011)
(1959, 1971, 1975, 1979, 2007, 2019)
(1963, 1999, 2003)
zone3_championshipCentrobasket
zone3_appearances24
zone3_medals(1973, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2016)
(1965, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2012, 2014)
(1969, 1995, 2006)
first_game26–39
(San Salvador, El Salvador; 1935)
largest_win171–72
(Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; 7 March 1974)
h_pattern_b_red stripes bologna
h_bodyFFFFFF
h_pattern_s_bluesides
h_shortsFFFFFF
h_titleHome
a_pattern_b_thinnavysides
a_bodyEE0000
a_pattern_s_bluesides
a_shortsEE0000
a_titleAway
{{MedalCounttotalyes
Note

the men's team

Los Gallos (1959, 1971, 1975, 1979, 2007, 2019) (1963, 1999, 2003) (1965, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2012, 2014) (1969, 1995, 2006) (San Salvador, El Salvador; 1935) (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; 7 March 1974) |FIBA Basketball World Cup|0|0|0 |FIBA AmeriCup|3|5|2 |Centrobasket|11|10|3 |Pan American Games|2|6|4 |Central American and Caribbean Games|6|6|4 |FIBA CBC Championship|1|0|0 |Goodwill Games|1|0|0 The Puerto Rico national basketball team () represents Puerto Rico in men's international basketball competitions, it is governed by the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation (), The team represents both FIBA and FIBA Americas. The team is colloquially known as the 12 Magníficos (lit. "The Magnificent 12").

Since joining FIBA in 1957, the Puerto Rican national team has been mostly composed by Puerto Rican-born players and players of Puerto Rican descent born in the continental United States such as Raymond Gause, Rick Apodaca, Georgie Torres, Héctor Blondet, Renaldo Balkman, Ramón Clemente, Maurice Harkless, Tyler Davis and many others.

The team's unofficial mascot is Moncho Loubriel.

History

The Puerto Rican Basketball Federation joined FIBA in 1957. Puerto Rico has participated in nine Olympics and 12 World Championships, although they have never won a medal at either competition.

Early years

Puerto Rico's first appearance at a World Championship was in 1959 in Chile, where, led by Juan Vicéns, who averaged 22 points per game, the team finished 5th with a record of 3–6. In 1963, at Puerto Rico's second World Championship appearance which took place in Brazil, the team, led by Rafael Valle and Juan Vicéns, opened the tournament winning two straight games. Yet, after losing other six games back to back, ended its participation with a win over Italy, obtaining the 6th place.

Coming back from its 13th place debut at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, in 1964 in Tokyo, the team was able to reach 4th place, in good part because of the contributions of point guard Juan Vicéns. This was, and still is as of 2016, the highest place it has ever reached since the team's birth at any Olympic Games. Three years later in Uruguay, at the 1967 World Championship, the team, led this time by Raymond Dalmau, was only able to finish 12th, ending the decade with a 9th place at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

Before the 1970s, regardless of the unremarkable performance at world international tournaments, Puerto Rico started to emerge as a power player at regional tournaments, medaling in all the competitions it participated (the Pan American Games, the CentroBasket tournament and the Central American and Caribbean Games). The medal count included two golds at the 1962 and the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games, failing to medal only at the 1967 Pan American Games, where it finished 5th.

1970s

The 1970s brought some dramatic moments for the team, particularly a one-point loss to the United States at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, where a win by Puerto Rico would have been the first undisputed basketball loss for the United States team at an Olympic competition. Also, the 1974 World Championship and the 1979 Pan American Games were held in San Juan, promoting local enthusiasm for international basketball and Puerto Rico's presence in it. The 7th and 10th places at the 1974 and 1978 World Championships, where the team, led by Hector Blondet and Rubén Rodríguez respectively, saw 2–5 and 4–3 finishes, became turning points for the Puerto Rican team. The 4–3 showing in 1978 in the Philippines was the first time ever the team finished with a positive record at a World Championship. These achievements were accompanied by golds at the 1973 Centrobasket and the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games. In all, Puerto Rico continued its regional success and was able to medal in all regional competitions.

1980s

The 1980s included significant success for the team, as it earned gold medals at two of the first four FIBA Americas Championships in 1980 and 1989, and at the 1985, 1987 and 1989 CentroBasket tournaments. The silver medal at the 1988 Americas Championship held in Montevideo, Uruguay, secured the team's first Olympic participation since 1976. Having qualified and earned the right to participate, the Puerto Rican team chose not to do so at the 1980 Olympic Games, held in Moscow, in solidarity with the American boycott of that competition, despite possessing the autonomy to attend. It also didn't participate at the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, because the team failed to qualify for it. Twelve years after its last Olympic showing, Puerto Rico was able to advance to the second round and finished 7th at the 1988 Olympic Games, held in Seoul. Two years earlier, at the 1986 World Championship in Spain, Puerto Rico's performance granted it the 10th place, having failed to qualify for the 1982 Championship in Colombia.

1990s

During the 1990s, the team's success continued. Led by José Ortiz, Ramón Rivas, Jerome Mincy, Fico López, and Edgar León. the decade began with a 4th-place finish at the 1990 World Championship in Argentina. Puerto Rico's best World Championship showing to date, it defeated teams such as eventual gold medallist Yugoslavia, Argentina and the United States, lost to the USSR and advanced to the medal round. The team lost the bronze medal game to the United States by two points in overtime. In 1991, led by Raymond Gause, besides earning gold at the CentroBasket tournament, the team also won, the gold medal for the first time at the Pan American Games in Cuba. The team also qualified for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, where it reached the second round, losing to the US in its first game of the elimination round, finishing at the end in 8th place. In 1993, Puerto Rico signed its Caribbean supremacy at this sport by winning gold at both the CentroBasket and the Central American and Caribbean Games. This victory at CentroBasket was the last of a 5 gold medal streak at the tournament. In 1994, the team finished in a 6th place at the World Championship in Canada, but won the gold at the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia, defeating teams such as Croatia, Russia, Brazil and Italy. It was then when Puerto Rico began to be classified as one of the top 10 international teams. Having won gold in 1995 at the FIBA Americas Pre-Olympic Championship, in 1996 at the Olympic Games, the team placed 10th in Atlanta, while in 1998, it placed 11th at the World Championship in Greece.

In 1994, Puerto Rico's national basketball team won the gold medal at the 1994 Goodwill Games in Russia, beating Italy, 94–80, in the gold medal game.

2000–2004

This Olympic cycle did not go well for the team at the International level, although it did have great moments and it performed well at the local level. Having failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia with its 4th place at the 1999 Tournament of the Americas hosted in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2001 the team was able to recover its CentroBasket title, with a triumph in Mexico. Later that year, the team repeated its 4th place at the 2001 FIBA Americas tournament in Argentina.

In 2002, the team had a strong showing at the World Championship held in Indianapolis, USA. The team beat the top 3 European teams at the time; eventual champion Yugoslavia, Turkey and Spain. Puerto Rico, with a 5–1 record entering the quarterfinals, lost its chance to get into the medals round only by a dramatic 2-points loss to New Zealand, eventually placing 7th. It is worth mentioning that Carlos Arroyo debuted at this tournament.

In 2003, the team also won gold at the CentroBasket tournament, held in Mexico, but was only able to achieve the bronze medal at the Tournament of the Americas and the Pan American Games. Reaching its 16th final at the CentroBasket tournament, Puerto Rico conquered the silver medal at the 2004 CentroBasket tournament, losing to the host Dominican Republic, 75–74, in the championship game.

The team made its ninth Olympic appearance in 2004 at Athens. On 15 August 2004, the Puerto Rico National Basketball Team became the second team in history to defeat the United States Olympic basketball team, recording only the third loss in an Olympic competition for the U.S. team, and the first since NBA players were allowed to compete. The 92–73 outcome of that game is, as of 2025, the most lopsided victory against the U.S. (collegiate or NBA players) in the history of Olympic basketball. The other team to defeat the U.S. had been the Soviet Union at the 1972 gold medal game (the outcome of which is still disputed) and the 1988 semifinals. Carlos Arroyo's gesture of lifting his shirt towards the end of the game became the subject of a picture that was published internationally and is considered iconic in Puerto Rico. For academic Antonio Sotomayor, the significance of this victory had to be taken within the context of imperialism in Olympism, being an scenario in which a "twenty-first century colonial nation can dramatically beat its colonial masters at their own game", in the process asserting "world exposure and national existence".

2005–2008

In 2005, Puerto Rico was invited to play at the 2005 Stanković Continental Champions' Cup in Beijing, where it lost all five games and ended up finishing in 6th place. Still, having failed to qualify directly to the 2006 World Championship by achieving a 7th place at the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship in Santo Domingo, due to its great tradition, in November 2005, Puerto Rico received an invitation to participate in the World tournament as a wildcard, along with Italy, Serbia and Montenegro and Turkey. En route to the World Championship, Puerto Rico won bronze at the 2006 Centrobasket, losing the automatic classification to the 2008 tournament, but recovering in time to earn gold at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games. Later, at the group play stage of the 2006 World Championship, which was contested in Japan, Puerto Rico started with victories over Senegal and China, but lost ties against the United States, Italy and Slovenia. The application of a second tiebreaker by points differential to Slovenia, China and Puerto Rico, each with a winning percentage of .400, placed Puerto Rico fifth in Group D, preventing the team from advancing to the knockout round for the first time since 1986; Puerto Rico ultimately placed 17th out of twenty-four, that being its shyest performance in a long time. The following year began with Puerto Rico earning its fifth silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games, followed by the team's first participation in a CaribeBasket tournament, debuting against Trinidad & Tobago. Although the team didn't have the participation of Daniel Santiago or Rick Apodaca, Puerto Rico won the tournament undefeated, which meant its classification to the 2008 Centrobasket tournament. Later that year, Puerto Rico started to host an exhibition tournament called the Marchand Continental Championship Cup in order to prepare for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. After playing against Brazil, Canada and Argentina, Puerto Rico lost all three games, ending up in fourth place. The year ended with a bronze at the FIBA Americas Championship. On 31 January 2008, a draw took place for the FIBA Preolympic tournament, which placed Puerto Rico in the same group as Croatia and Cameroon, where its winner would have to face the second place of Group C. Following this event, the president of the National Superior Basketball League confirmed that the team would play exhibition games at the 2008 Bamberg Super Cup in Germany against Greece, Slovenia and the host, beginning on 4 July 2008. Then, a second set of exhibition games would follow, scheduled to start on 8 July 2008, in Slovenia: the 2008 Alpos International Cup, where the team would face New Zealand, Iran and the hosts. After these preparatory tournaments, the team would train until the Preolympic tournament's beginning. The team began practicing on 19 May 2008, and included several players that were under consideration for inclusion by Cintrón. On 4 June 2008, Daniel Santiago confirmed that he would abandon his international retirement and play with Puerto Rico in the Preolympic tournament. Santiago announced that he would join the team in July, following an exhibition game. Javier Mojica, Alejandro Carmona and Joel Jones were included in as potential members in the preliminary team. On 1 July 2008, hours before the team was scheduled to travel to Europe, Ángelo Reyes was excluded after not establishing communication with the directives. Reyes was replaced with Alex Falcón. Subsequently, Reyes asked for a dispensation to attend personal matters, noting that he intended to join the team in a week; however, he was not included due to time constraints. In the first game at the Bamberg Super Cup, Puerto Rico defeated Germany with a team composed mostly of reserve players, as Carlos Arroyo, Santiago, Larry Ayuso and Carmelo Lee were attending other compromises. Puerto Rico continued playing with these players, finishing 2nd, after losing the final game to Greece, who entered the cup with their entire lineup. Santiago and Ayuso joined the practices on 5 July 2008, when Puerto Rico traveled to Slovenia, where the Alpos International Cup was being held. The first match in the tournament was a victory against New Zealand, followed by another victory in the semifinals over Iran. At the end, Puerto Rico finished second, losing to Slovenia in the finals. The Preolympic tournament began on 14 July 2008, but Puerto Rico's debut came the following day, when the team defeated Cameroon and advanced to the second round, due to a loss that the African team had suffered during the first day of competition. On its second game, the team lost to Croatia, but in the quarterfinals, defeated Slovenia. The team didn't qualify to the Olympics, after losing to Greece in the semifinals and to Germany in the tournament's bronze medal game.

2008–2012

This Olympic cycle began with the 2008 Centrobasket competition. After having failed to classify directly to it, Puerto Rico's spot was secured after its first and only participation in the 2007 CaribeBasket tournament, where Puerto Rico won all round one games by over 25 points and went on to win gold. The 2008 Centrobasket was scheduled to take place before the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, but due to time constraints it was postponed. A group of prospects was included in the roster to replace Peter John Ramos and Ricky Sanchez, who were injured. Among those included was Ángel Daniel Vassallo, who played as a small forward in Virginia Tech. In the first game of the tournament, Puerto Rico defeated Costa Rica. In the other two games of the first round, the team defeated Cuba and Panama. During the course of the event, Carlos Arroyo and Larry Ayuso were forced to rest a game due to injuries. In the semifinals, the team scored a win over the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico won the gold medal by defeating the United States Virgin Islands in the finals. The team has secured a spot for the 2010 FIBA World Championship by finishing in 1 of the top 4 spots in the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship. At the end, Puerto Rico finished the tournament with the silver medal, having lost the game against Argentina in the group stage, and losing the final against Brazil. Pending the performance at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, this cycle has had Puerto Rico with a record of 19–2 (Caribebasket 6–0, Centrobasket 5–0, FIBA Americas 8–2), not counting the 2nd-place finish at the 2009 Marchand Continental Championship Cup, where Puerto Rico won the exhibition games against Argentina and Canada, but lost the final to Brazil.

At the 2010 CentroBasket, Puerto Rico won Group B with Cuba finishing second. The team defeated Panama in semifinals and the Dominican Republic in the final to win the gold medal. Arroyo and Barea were included in the tournament's All-Star Team.

In 2010, the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation relieved Manolo Cintron of his coaching duties, and on 8 June 2011, the Federation officially announced the new head coach of the national team, Flor Melendez, which will be Melendez's second stint with the team as head coach.

On 27 August 2011, a chartered airplane carrying the team as well as the Canadian, Dominican and Brazilian national basketball teams from Foz de Iguacu, Brazil, to Mar del Plata, Argentina, made an emergency landing at Ezeiza International Airport, Buenos Aires, Argentina, after experiencing severe weather conditions mid-flight. The plane left for Mar del Plata an hour and a half after it landed.

2019

On 26 February 2019, Puerto Rico defeated the Uruguayan national basketball team 65–61, securing their entrance into the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China They were drawn to Group C, facing 2nd-ranked Spain, alongside Iran and Tunisia, with Puerto Rico facing Iran and Tunisia for the very first time.

2023 FIBA World Cup

On 27 July 2023, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that for precautionary reasons that Puerto Rican star PG Jose Alvarado would miss the 2023 FIBA world cup to allow him to heal up for the upcoming NBA season.

On 10 August 2023, FIBA had announced the 2025 AmeriCup Qualifiers groups, placing PR in Group D with the United States, Cuba, and Bahamas.

2024

On July 7, 2024, Puerto Rico qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics after defeating both Mexico in the semifinals and Lithuania in the final of one of four 2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. However, they were eliminated after back-to-back losses against South Sudan and Serbia as a result of their very poor performance at the Olympics, marred by their inconsistent playing styles that led to their early exit from the Olympics. In the final game, they lost to the United States. Ultimately, Puerto Rico finished dead last in the Olympics basketball as a result of their worst performance after their 20-year return.

Uniform

During most of the 1980s and up until the late 1990s, the team wore a solid color uniform, with accent lines and the word "Puerto Rico" written in stylized cursive. Nowadays, the national team's uniform resembles a Puerto Rican flag, but also includes the traditional Puerto Rico letters in cursive. The uniforms are red or blue for "home" status, and white for "away".

Competitive record

Summer Olympics

YearPositionPldWLTotal753441
ITA 196013th835
JPN 19644th954
MEX 19689th954
GER 19726th963
CAN 19769th734
URS 1980Boycotted
USA 1984Did not qualify
KOR 19887th844
ESP 19928th835
USA 199610th725
AUS 2000Did not qualify
GRE 20046th734
CHN 2008Did not qualify
GBR 2012
BRA 2016
JPN 2020
FRA 202412th303
USA 2028To be determined
AUS 2032

FIBA World Cup

YearPositionPldWLTotal1034360
CHI 19595th936
BRA 19636th936
URU 196712th826
YUG 1970Did not qualify
PUR 19747th725
PHI 197810th743
COL 1982Did not qualify
ESP 198613th523
ARG 19904th862
CAN 19946th835
GRE 199811th835
USA 20027th963
JPN 200617th523
TUR 201018th514
ESP 201419th514
CHN 201915th523
PHI/JPN/IDN 202312th532
QAT 2027To be determined

FIBA AmeriCup

FIBA AmericasQualificationYearPos.PldWLPldWLTotal15710158532
PUR 1980651Directly qualified
BRA 19846th835
URU 1988862
MEX 1989871
USA 19924th743
PUR 1993752
ARG 19951091
URU 1997954
PUR 19994th1064
ARG 20014th954
PUR 20031064
DOM 20057th844
USA 20071055
PUR 20091082
ARG 20114th1064
VEN 20131073
MEX 20155th844
ARG/COL/URU 20175th321
BRA 20225th422
NCA 20256th422532
Total
35210

Pan American Games

YearPositionTournamentHost
19511951 Pan American GamesBuenos Aires, Argentina
19551955 Pan American GamesMexico City, Mexico
19591959 Pan American GamesChicago, United States
19631963 Pan American GamesSão Paulo, Brazil
196751967 Pan American GamesWinnipeg, Canada
19711971 Pan American GamesCali, Colombia
19751975 Pan American GamesMexico City, Mexico
19791979 Pan American GamesSan Juan, Puerto Rico
198361983 Pan American GamesCaracas, Venezuela
19871987 Pan American GamesIndianapolis, United States
1991****1991 Pan American GamesHavana, Cuba
199561995 Pan American GamesMar del Plata, Argentina
19991999 Pan American GamesWinnipeg, Canada
20032003 Pan American GamesSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
20072007 Pan American GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil
2011****2011 Pan American GamesGuadalajara, Mexico
201562015 Pan American GamesToronto, Canada
20192019 Pan American GamesLima, Peru
202372023 Pan American GamesSantiago, Chile

Since joining FIBA in 1957, Puerto Rico has participated in the basketball competition for all editions of the Pan American Games since 1959, obtaining medals in all but the 1967, 1983, 1995, 2015, and 2023 games. It has a total of 12 medals.

Total
26412

Centrobasket

YearPositionTournamentHost
19651965 Centrobasket ChampionshipMexico City, Mexico
19671967 Centrobasket ChampionshipSan Salvador, El Salvador
19691969 Centrobasket ChampionshipHavana, Cuba
19711971 Centrobasket ChampionshipCaracas, Venezuela
1973****1973 Centrobasket ChampionshipSan Juan, Puerto Rico
19751975 Centrobasket ChampionshipSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
19771977 Centrobasket ChampionshipPanama City, Panama
19811981 Centrobasket ChampionshipSan Juan Puerto Rico
1985****1985 Centrobasket ChampionshipMexico City, Mexico
1987****1987 Centrobasket ChampionshipSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
1989****1989 Centrobasket ChampionshipHavana, Cuba
1991****1991 CentroBasket ChampionshipMonterrey, Mexico
1993****1993 Centrobasket ChampionshipPonce, Puerto Rico
19951995 Centrobasket ChampionshipSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
19971997 Centrobasket ChampionshipTegucigalpa, Honduras
19991999 Centrobasket ChampionshipHavana, Cuba
2001****2001 Centrobasket ChampionshipToluca, Mexico
2003****2003 Centrobasket ChampionshipCuliacán, Mexico
20042004 Centrobasket ChampionshipSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
20062006 Centrobasket ChampionshipPanama City, Panama
2008****2008 Centrobasket ChampionshipCancún, Mexico
2010****2010 Centrobasket ChampionshipSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
20122012 Centrobasket ChampionshipSan Juan, Puerto Rico
20142014 Centrobasket ChampionshipNayarit, Mexico
2016****2016 Centrobasket ChampionshipPanama City, Panama

Puerto Rico has a great record at the Centrobasket Championships, having participated in all of them but 1967, and obtaining a medal in all.

Total
1110324

Central American and Caribbean Games

YearPositionTournamentHost
19261926 Central American and Caribbean GamesMexico City, Mexico
19301930 Central American and Caribbean GamesHavana, Cuba
19351935 Central American and Caribbean GamesSan Salvador, El Salvador
193841938 Central American and Caribbean GamesPanama City, Panama
194651946 Central American and Caribbean GamesBarranquilla, Colombia
195051950 Central American and Caribbean GamesGuatemala City, Guatemala
19541954 Central American and Caribbean GamesMexico City, Mexico
19591959 Central American and Caribbean GamesCaracas, Venezuela
19621962 Central American and Caribbean GamesKingston, Jamaica
19661966 Central American and Caribbean GamesSan Juan, Puerto Rico
19701970 Central American and Caribbean GamesPanama City, Panama
19741974 Central American and Caribbean GamesSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
19781978 Central American and Caribbean GamesMedellin, Colombia
19821982 Central American and Caribbean GamesHavana, Cuba
19861986 Central American and Caribbean GamesSantiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
19901990 Central American and Caribbean GamesMexico City, Mexico
19931993 Central American and Caribbean GamesPonce, Puerto Rico
199861998 Central American and Caribbean GamesMaracaibo, Venezuela
20022002 Central American and Caribbean GamesSan Salvador, El Salvador
20062006 Central American and Caribbean GamesCartagena, Colombia
20102010 Central American and Caribbean GamesMayagüez, Puerto Rico
20142014 Central American and Caribbean GamesVeracruz, Mexico
20182018 Central American and Caribbean GamesBarranquilla, Colombia
20232023 Central American and Caribbean GamesSan Salvador, El Salvador

Since its basketball debut in the 1935 Games, Puerto Rico has only failed to medal in the 1938, 1946, 1950, and 1998 Games. The team has a total of 16 medals.

Total
66517

CaribeBasket Championships

YearPositionTournamentHost
20072007 CaribeBasket ChampionshipCaguas, Puerto Rico

Since the founding of the CaribeBasket tournament in 1981 as a CentroBasket qualification stage for Caribbean countries, Puerto Rico has only participated in the 2007 tournament, after failing to classify directly to CentroBasket 2008. In this tournament, it won all round one games by over 25 points and went on to win gold.

Goodwill Games

YearPositionTournamentHost
1986131986 Goodwill GamesMoscow, Soviet Union
199061990 Goodwill GamesSeattle, Washington, United States
19941994 Goodwill GamesSt. Petersburg, Russia
199841998 Goodwill GamesNew York City, New York, United States
20012001 Goodwill GamesBrisbane, Australia

Because the 1986 FIBA World Championship was scheduled to be held at the same time as the 1986 Goodwill Games, the inaugural men's Goodwill Games basketball title was based on results from the World's. For the 2001 games, although scheduled to compete with seven other teams, Puerto Rico was not able to make it to the tournament, being replaced by Mexico, which finished 7th.

FIBA World Olympic qualifying tournament

YearPositionTournamentHostComment
1960N/A1960 Pre-Olympic Basketball TournamentBologna, ItalyQualified – 1959 Pan Am Games – 2nd place
1964N/A1964 Pre-Olympic Basketball TournamentYokohama, JapanQualified – 1963 Pan Am Games – 3rd place
1968N/A1968 Pre-Olympic Basketball TournamentMonterrey, MexicoQualified – 1964 Olympic Games – 4th place
1972N/A1972 Pre-Olympic Basketball TournamentAugsburg, GermanyQualified – 1971 Pan Am Games – 2nd place
1976N/A1976 Pre-Olympic Basketball TournamentHamilton, CanadaQualified – 1975 Pan Am Games – 2nd place
1980–2004Did not take place.
200842008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying TournamentAthens, GreeceDid not qualify – reached Semi-final.
201252012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying TournamentCaracas, VenezuelaDid not qualify – reached Quarter-final.
201622016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying TournamentBelgrade, SerbiaDid not qualify – reached Final.
202032020 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying TournamentBelgrade, SerbiaDid not qualify – reached Semi-final.
202412024 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying TournamentSan Juan, Puerto RicoQualified

Marchand Continental Championship Cup

YearPositionTournamentHost
200742007 Marchand Continental Championship CupSan Juan, Puerto Rico
200922009 Marchand Continental Championship CupSan Juan, Puerto Rico
201122011 Marchand Continental Championship CupFoz do Iguaçu, Brazil
201312013 Marchand Continental Championship CupSan Juan, Puerto Rico
201522015 Marchand Continental Championship CupSan Juan, Puerto Rico

Other international events

YearPositionTournamentHost
19911Winston Basketball CupSan Juan, Puerto Rico
200562005 Stanković Continental Champions' CupBeijing, China
200822008 Bamberg Super CupBamberg, Germany
200822008 Alpos International CupMaribor, Slovenia
201342013 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup – Tournament 1Lanzhou, China
201342013 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup – Tournament 2Guangzhou, China

Record against other teams at the World Cup

CountryW–L
ARG Argentina1–1
AUS Australia1–2
ANG Angola2–0
BRA Brazil1–7
BUL Bulgaria0–2
CAN Canada4–0
Chile Chile0–1
CHN China3–1
CRO Croatia0–1
CUB Cuba1–0
TCH Czechoslovakia0–1
DOM Dominican Republic2–0
EGY Egypt1–0
FRA France0–1
GER Germany1–1
GRE Greece1–3
IRI Iran1–0
ITA Italy1–6
CIV Ivory Coast1–1
JPN Japan2–1
LIB Lebanon1–0
MEX Mexico0–1
NZL New Zealand0–1
PAR Paraguay2–0
PER Peru1–1
PHI Philippines2–0
POL Poland0–1
RUS Russia0–3
SEN Senegal1–1
KOR South Korea1–0
SSD South Sudan1–0
URS Soviet Union0–4
ESP Spain1–2
TUN Tunisia1–0
TUR Turkey1–1
URU Uruguay1–0
USA United States1–8
VEN Venezuela1–0
YUG Yugoslavia2–4
Total record37–56
Overall historic score453–487

Last updated: 4 September 2019

Results and fixtures

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Retired numbers

No.PlayerPos.TenureRef.
4José OrtizPF / C1983–2004
14Raymond DalmauPF1966–1985

Head coach position

  • PUR Víctor Mario Pérez (1959)
  • USA Howie Shannon (1960–1963)
  • PUR José Garrige (1963)
  • USA Lou Rossini (1964–1967)
  • PUR Fufi Santori (1967)
  • USA Lou Rossini (1968–1972)
  • USA Gene Bartow (1972–1974)
  • PUR Armando Torres (1974–1976)
  • USA Tom Nissalke (1976–1978)
  • PUR Víctor Ojeda (1978–1986)
  • PUR Ángel Cancel (1986–1988)
  • PUR Armando Torres Ortiz (1988–1990)
  • PUR Raymond Dalmau (1990–1994)
  • PUR Carlos Morales (1994–2002)
  • PUR Julio Toro (2002–2006)
  • PUR Manolo Cintrón (2010–2011)
  • PUR Flor Meléndez (2011–2013)
  • ESP Paco Olmos (2013–2014)
  • USA Rick Pitino (2015)
  • PUR Eddie Casiano (2016–2021)
  • PUR Omar González (2019; Pan American Games)
  • PUR Nelson Colón (2021–present)

Past rosters

1959 World Championship

  • Alfonso Lastra
  • Juan "Pachin" Vicens
  • Juan Ramon "Johnny" Baez
  • Jose Angel Cestero
  • Johnny Rodriguez
  • Evelio Droz
  • John Morales
  • Jose Antonio Casillas
  • Martin Jimenez
  • Jose A. Ruano
  • Salvador Dijols (Coach: Victor Mario Perez)

1960 Summer Olympic Games

  • Juan "Pachin" Vicens
  • Teofilo "Teo" Cruz
  • Evelio Droz
  • Juan Ramon "Johnny" Baez
  • Jose Angel Cestero
  • Jose Antonio Casillas
  • Johnny Rodriguez
  • Rafael Valle
  • Jose Santori
  • Angel Cancel
  • John Morales
  • Cesar Bocachica (Coach: Howie Shannon)

1963 World Championship

  • Juan "Pachin" Vicens
  • Juan Ramon "Johnny" Baez
  • Bill McCadney
  • Rafael Valle
  • Evelio Droz
  • Salvador Dijols
  • Eduardo Alvarez
  • Cesar Bocachica
  • Ramon Siragusa
  • Tomas Gutierrez
  • Angel Cancel
  • Armando Torres (Coach: Jose Garrige)

1964 Summer Olympic Games

  • Teofilo "Teo" Cruz
  • Juan "Pachin" Vicens
  • Bill McCadney
  • Juan Ramon "Johnny" Baez
  • Tomas Gutierrez
  • Evelio Droz
  • Ruben Adorno
  • Angel Cancel
  • Martin Anza
  • Alberto Zamot
  • Jaime Frontera
  • Angel Garcia (Coach: Lou Rossini)

1967 World Championship

  • Raymond Dalmau
  • Bill McCadney
  • Tomas Gutierrez
  • Angel Cancel
  • Rafael Rivera
  • Gustavo Mattei
  • Francisco Cordova
  • Mariano Ortiz
  • Alberto Zamot
  • Victor Cuevas
  • Adolfo Porrata
  • Richard Pietri (Coach: Jose Santori Coll)

1968 Summer Olympic Games

  • Raymond Dalmau
  • Teofilo "Teo" Cruz
  • Bill McCadney
  • Joe Hatton
  • Ruben Adorno
  • Alberto Zamot
  • Angel Cancel
  • Tomas Gutierrez
  • Mariano Ortiz
  • Francisco Cordova
  • Jaime Frontera
  • Adolfo Porrata (Coach: Lou Rossini)

1972 Summer Olympic Games

  • Teofilo "Teo" Cruz
  • Raymond Dalmau
  • Hector Blondet
  • Neftali Rivera
  • Ruben Rodriguez
  • Joe Hatton
  • Mariano Ortiz
  • Billy Baum
  • Earl Brown
  • Miguel Coll
  • Jimmy Thordsen
  • Ricardo Calzada (Coach: Gene Bartow)

1974 World Championship

  • Teofilo "Teo" Cruz
  • Raymond Dalmau
  • Neftali Rivera
  • Hector Blondet
  • Ruben Rodriguez
  • Jimmy Thordsen
  • Mariano Ortiz
  • Michael Vicens
  • Ruben Montanez
  • Carlos Bermudez
  • Jose Pacheco
  • Luis Brignoni (Coach: Armandito Torres Ortiz)

1976 Summer Olympic Games

  • Teofilo "Teo" Cruz
  • Raymond Dalmau
  • Neftali Rivera
  • Earl Brown
  • Hector Blondet
  • Jimmy Thordsen
  • Mariano Ortiz
  • Michael Vicens
  • Roberto "Bobby" Alvarez
  • Alfred Lee
  • Ruben Rodriguez
  • Luis Brignoni (Coach: Tom Nissalke)

1978 World Championship

  • Raymond Dalmau
  • Neftali Rivera
  • Ruben Rodriguez
  • Angel "Cachorro" Santiago
  • Steven Sewell
  • Hector Olivencia, Willie Quinones
  • Georgie Torres
  • Carlos Bermudez
  • Mario Morales
  • J. Villet
  • O. Rodriguez (Coach: Victor Ojeda)

1986 World Championship

  • Federico "Fico" Lopez
  • Ramon Rivas
  • Jerome Mincy
  • Angelo Cruz
  • Felix Rivera
  • Edgar de Leon
  • Wesley Correa
  • Jose Sosa
  • Orlando Febres
  • Frankie Torruellas
  • Mario Morales
  • Francisco de Leon (Coach: Angel Cancel)

1988 Summer Olympic Games

  • Federico "Fico" Lopez
  • Jose "Piculin" Ortiz
  • Ramon Ramos
  • Jerome Mincy
  • Ramon Rivas
  • Angelo Cruz
  • Edgar de Leon
  • Mario Morales
  • Roberto Rios
  • Francisco de Leon
  • Raymond Gausse
  • Vicente Ithier (Coach: Armandito Torres Ortiz)

1990 World Championship

  • Federico "Fico" Lopez
  • Jose "Piculin" Ortiz
  • Ramon Rivas
  • Jerome Mincy
  • Angelo Cruz
  • Edgar de Leon
  • James Carter
  • Francisco de Leon
  • Georgie Torres
  • Raymond Gausse
  • Jose Agosto
  • Orlando Marrero (Coach: Raymond Dalmau)

1992 Summer Olympic Games

  • Jose "Piculin" Ortiz
  • Federico "Fico" Lopez
  • Eddie Casiano
  • Ramon Rivas
  • Jerome Mincy
  • Edgar de Leon
  • James Carter
  • Mario Morales
  • Richard Soto
  • Raymond Gausse
  • Edwin Pellot
  • Javier Antonio Colon (Coach: Raymond Dalmau)

1994 World Championship

  • Jose "Piculin" Ortiz
  • Federico "Fico" Lopez
  • Eddie Casiano
  • Edgar de Leon
  • Jerome Mincy
  • James Carter
  • Orlando Vega
  • Felix Perez
  • Ruben Colon
  • Dean Borges
  • Javier Colon
  • Luis Ramon Allende (Coach: Carlos Morales)

1996 Summer Olympic Games

  • Jose "Piculin" Ortiz
  • Ramon Rivas
  • Daniel Santiago
  • Pablo Alicea
  • Edgar Padilla
  • Jerome Mincy
  • Richard Soto
  • Heriberto "Eddie" Rivera
  • George "Georgie" Torres
  • Carmelo Travieso
  • Eugenio Soto
  • Luis Joel Curbelo (Coach: Carlos Morales)

1998 World Championship

  • Jose "Piculin" Ortiz
  • Eddie Casiano
  • Orlando Vèga
  • Daniel Santiago
  • Jerome Mincy
  • James Carter
  • Eugenio Soto
  • Edgar de Leon
  • Carmelo Travieso
  • Eddin Santiago
  • Javier Colon
  • Rolando Hourruitiner (Coach: Carlos Morales)

2002 World Championship

  • Carlos Arroyo
  • Elias "Larry" Ayuso
  • Daniel Santiago
  • Jose "Piculin" Ortiz
  • Rick Apodaca
  • Jerome Mincy
  • Christian Dalmau
  • Raymond "Richie" Dalmau
  • Rolando Hourruitiner
  • Luis Ramon Allende
  • Antonio Latimer
  • Felix Javier Perez (Coach: Julio Toro)

2004 Summer Olympic Games

  • Carlos Arroyo
  • Elias "Larry" Ayuso
  • Jose "Piculin" Ortiz
  • Daniel Santiago
  • Eddie Casiano
  • Rick Apodaca
  • Christian Dalmau
  • Sharif Karim Fajardo
  • Peter John Ramos
  • Roberto Jose "Bobby Joe" Hatton
  • Rolando Hourruitiner
  • Jorge Luis Rivera (Coach: Julio Toro)

2006 World Championship

  • Carlos Arroyo
  • David Huertas
  • Daniel Santiago
  • Rick Apodaca
  • Guillermo Díaz
  • Peter John Ramos
  • Roberto Jose "Bobby Joe" Hatton
  • Antonio "Puruco" Latimer
  • Carmelo Antrone Lee
  • Filiberto Isaac Rivera
  • Manuel Antonio Narvaez
  • Angelo Luis Reyes (Coach: Julio Toro)

Depth chart

PositionStarterBackupReserveCPFSFSGPG
George Conditt IVIsmael RomeroJorge Díaz
Jonathan IsaacTai OdiaseIsaiah Piñeiro
Julian StrawtherEnrique FreemanAleem Ford
Markus HowardShabazz NapierDavon Reed
Jose AlvaradoTremont WatersJordan Howard

References

Footnotes Bibliography

References

  1. Garcés, Brandon. (April 18, 2024). "Moncho es el capitán de este equipo". GFR Media.
  2. "Men's Competition – Puerto Rico". FIBA Americas.
  3. (1 June 1988). "Brazil defeats P. R. for gold". The San Juan Star.
  4. {{Harvnb. Sotomayor. 2016
  5. Hiram Martinez, El Nuevo Dia 18 August 1991 pg 206 "Cómodo el triunfo sobre México"
  6. "THIRD MEN'S GOODWILL GAMES – 1994".
  7. {{Harvnb. Sotomayor. 2016
  8. {{Harvnb. Sotomayor. 2016
  9. {{Harvnb. Sotomayor. 2016
  10. {{Harvnb. Sotomayor. 2016
  11. José R. Ortúzar. (6 August 2007). "A la cancha". [[El Vocero]].
  12. Raúl álzaga Sánchez-Bretón. (1 February 2008). "La clasificación está accesible". Primera Hora.
  13. Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón. (20 May 2008). "Muchas ausencias en primera práctica". Primera Hora.
  14. (4 June 2008). "Daniel Santiago con el equipo nacional". Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
  15. Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón. (30 June 2008). "Mojica y 'Bimbo' completan la Selección". Primera Hora.
  16. Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón. (1 July 2008). "¡Desplante de Angelo Reyes!: Le dice 'no' a la Selección". Primera Hora.
  17. Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón. (2 July 2008). "Reversazo de Reyes". Primera Hora.
  18. Lester Jiménez. (9 July 2008). "Angelo Reyes no irá a Grecia". Primera Hora.
  19. Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón. (4 July 2008). "Boricuas debutan con triunfo ante Alemania". Primera Hora.
  20. (5 July 2008). "Derrota ante los griegos". Primera Hora.
  21. Luis Modestti. (6 July 2008). "Greece beats Puerto Rico to win the Supercup". myFIBA.
  22. (8 July 2008). "Puerto Rico vence a Nueva Zelanda en baloncesto". Primera Hora.
  23. (9 July 2008). "Puerto Rico vence a Irán 83–80". Primera Hora.
  24. Lester Jiménez. (10 July 2008). "Pierde nuestra Selección ante Eslovenia". Primera Hora.
  25. Luis Modestti. (11 July 2008). "Puerto Rico loses to Slovenia, makes final cut". myFIBA.
  26. (18 July 2008). "Puerto Rico derrota a Eslovenia". [[El Vocero]].
  27. José R. Ortúzar. (21 July 2008). "Con la cabeza en alto Puerto Rico". [[El Vocero]].
  28. José Ayala Gordián. (28 August 2008). "Los Boricuas arrancaron con una cómoda 'salsa'". Primera Hora.
  29. (29 August 2008). "Puerto Rico vence a Cuba". [[El Vocero]].
  30. (30 August 2008). "Luce Barea para mantener invicto de Puerto Rico". [[El Vocero]].
  31. Alex Figueroa Cancel. (29 August 2008). "Arroyo no jugará hoy tras golpe en ojo". Primera Hora.
  32. (21 August 2008). "Puerto Rico va por el oro". Primera Hora.
  33. (10 July 2010). "PUR/BIZ – Puerto Rico vence a Belice para ganar el Grupo B". [[FIBA Americas]].
  34. Wilson Tavárez. (12 July 2010). "Puerto Rico campeón de CentroBasket 2010". DiaDeportivo.com.
  35. "Pesadilla en el aire para la delegación boricua en Argentina – El Nuevo Día".
  36. FIgueroa, Jorge. (25 February 2019). "Puerto Rico vence a Uruguay y clasifica al Mundial FIBA".
  37. Jose Alvarado (basketball)
  38. (27 July 2023). "Report: Pelicans Jose Alvarado to Miss FIBA World Cup".
  39. (9 August 2023). "The FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers stage is set".
  40. (7 July 2024). "Puerto Rico ends 20-year Olympic drought with historic win over Lithuania".
  41. (2024-07-28). "Unforgettable first: South Sudan overcomes Puerto Rico with team effort".
  42. (2024-08-03). "LeBron elite passing unlocks Puerto Rico puzzle".
  43. "Men Basketball Central American and Caribbean Games Archive". Todor Krastev.
  44. "1986 Goodwill Games". AOL Time Warner Company.
  45. "1990 Goodwill Games". AOL Time Warner Company.
  46. "1994 Goodwill Games". AOL Time Warner Company.
  47. "1998 Goodwill Games". AOL Time Warner Company.
  48. "2001 Goodwill Games". AOL Time Warner Company.
  49. "First Men's Goodwill Games – 1986". USA Basketball.
  50. "2001 Goodwill Games News". AOL Time Warner Company.
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