DECEMBER 16, 2020 METSBASKETBALL
The Guaynabo Mets came up just short of their first Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) finals appearance since 1993, falling to the Bayamón Vaqueros 79 – 76 in the bubble tournament.
For the Mets, it was a bittersweet end to a rollercoaster year that saw them reinstated to the league as an expansion team after a five-year absence, only to have the COVID-19 pandemic threaten the season. Guaynabo battled through roster turnover, a coaching change, virus protocols, and a slow start to the tournament to come within one game of a BSN finals berth.
“I’m extremely proud of our team,” said Mets co-owner Marc Grossman. “We had to deal with a lot of adversity on and off the court, but over the last couple of weeks we started to play our best basketball of the season. While it’s always disappointing to lose, I think we showed that the franchise has a lot to be excited about. I’d like to thank our players, coaching staff, the Mets fans, and BSN leadership for making this season a success. Congratulations to Bayamón and Quebradillas on reaching the finals.”
The Mets’ 2020 season began on March 1 with a home loss to Arecibo. After a 1-3 start, the Mets were forced to wait nearly eight months for their next game due to a suspension of league play over COVID-19. In the meantime, the team had to find a new coach and three new import players. They brought in Christopher Thomas to replace Carlos Calcaño and signed Terrance Jones, David Stockton, and Angel Nunez in place of Isaiah Austin, Rakeem Christmas, and Daniel Hamilton. The Mets struggled early in the bubble at the Wyndham Resort in Río Grande but eventually found their groove, winning six of their next seven games. They swept Fajardo in the quarterfinals and defeated Bayamón in the first game of the semifinals before losing the series 2-1.
“This experience was absolutely incredible and I am very appreciative to the Mets’ ownership and front office for giving me the opportunity to lead this basketball team,” said Head Coach Chris Thomas, who nearly became the first American coach to reach the BSN finals since 1994. “The hard work of our players laid a foundation of success in the first year back for this proud club. We are all so grateful for the support of our fans and we truly hope they were able to find some joy during these crazy times by watching us compete. I also want to thank the BSN, the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, and the entire staff who helped pull off a flawless bubble tournament.”
There will be plenty of uncertainty facing the Mets and the BSN this offseason. The unusual 2020 season is likely to spill over into 2021 and create more challenges as the global pandemic rages on. Whenever and however basketball is played next year, the Mets will be ready to pick up where they left off.
“Our goal from day one has been to bring home a championship to the city of Guaynabo,” said Marc Grossman. “We surprised a lot of people in our first year back, but we definitely are not satisfied with the result. Getting this close to the finals gave us a glimpse of what we’re capable of. We’ll use this season as a stepping stone and continue to work hard to restore this franchise to its former glory.”