Guaynabo Mets Returning After 5-Year Absence
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico – December 5, 2019, Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), Puerto Rico’s premier men’s professional basketball league, will have a tenth franchise for the 2020 season. A San Juan metropolitan area-based ownership group led by Marc Grossman and Mark Linder are bringing back the Metropolitan area based Guaynabo Mets franchise, which won three championships in the 1980s.
The Mets have selected BSN veteran Alfredo Morales Rivera to serve as the team’s General Manager. Rivera played in the league for 14 years, served as President of the Puerto Rico Professional Players Association and Team Manager of the Puerto Rico National Senior Men’s team. He also served as BSN tournament director from 2016 to 2019.
“We have complete faith in Alfredo to help restore to glory the once legendary Guaynabo Mets had and build this team into the league’s next great dynasty,” said Grossman.
The Mets’ roster is coming into shape ahead of the 2020 season. In addition to hiring Morales Rivera, the team acquired the rights to Tyquan Rolón, Alvin Cruz, Miguel Alí Berdiel, and Weyinmi Rose during the expansion draft. They also signed free agent Ángel Álamo and are in negotiations with at least one other top free agent. Under BSN league rules, the expansion Mets are allowed to sign three non-Puerto Rican players, one of whom must be Latin American.
“Having a new franchise in the metropolitan area is a positive, and introducing it through the expansion process is something that speaks very well of our institution,” said BSN President Ricardo Dalmau.
“We hope they have a competitive team next season using all the options available to complete their squad.” (Left to Right) Ricardo Dalmau (BSN President), Marc Grossman (Mets Co-Owner), Ángel Pérez Otero (Guaynabo Mayor), and Alfredo Morales Rivera (Mets General Manager) meeting at the Mayor’s office in Guaynabo, PR.
Former NFL players Ottis Anderson and Derriel McCorvey and ex-NBA player Charles Oakley have agreed to serve as ambassadors to the Mets franchise. As ambassadors, they’ll help to spread team spirit to the fan base, both in Puerto Rico and abroad.
The return of the Mets for the 2020 season means the return of professional basketball to the Metropolitan area for the first time since 2016. The franchise was founded in 1935 as the Cangrejeros de Santurce and played under than name until 1976, when it relocated to the nearby city of Guaynabo and was renamed the Mets de Guaynabo. BSN legend Mario Morales led the Mets to league championships in 1980, 1982, and 1989. They reached the finals in 1985, 1990 and 1993.
The new Mets will play their home games at Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum.
“On behalf of my business partner, the Mets franchise, and Mets fans, I would like to thank Mayor Ángel Pérez Otero for making possible the return of basketball to Guaynabo” said Grossman.
“Sports have the unique ability to inspire people and create community. As the Commonwealth continues to recover from the devastation of Hurricane María, I believe that Mets basketball will serve as a symbol of renewal and hope.”
Grossman indicated that the team plans to interview coaching candidates in Puerto Rico beginning next week. Mayor Pérez Otero will officially announce the new Mets during a press conference at the Guaynabo Sports Museum expected to be on December 11.
Mets training camp is scheduled for January 15 – 20. The BSN regular season begins February 29. For season ticket sales and corporate sponsorship opportunities, visit www.metsbasketball.com.