Mets de Guaynabo (basketball)

Mets de Guaynabo
League	Baloncesto Superior Nacional
Founded	1935
History	Cangrejeros de Santurce (1935–1976) Mets de Guaynabo (1976–2015; 2019–present)
Arena	Mario Morales Coliseum
Location	Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Team colors	Navy, White, Cyan
Head coach	J. J. Barea
Ownership	Marc D. Grossman Mark Linder
Championships	3 (1980, 1982, 1989)
Website	https://metsbasketball.com/
Home Away Third

The Guaynabo Mets are a Puerto Rican professional basketball team based in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, competing in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), the island's premier basketball league, as part of its East Division. Originally founded in 1935 as the Cangrejeros of Santurce, the franchise relocated to Guaynabo in 1976, adopting the Mets moniker due to the city's metropolitan location. The Mets play their home games at Mario Morales Coliseum, named after Mets legend Mario "Quijote" Morales a legendary player who guided the Mets to three BSN championships in the 1980s (1980, 1982, and 1989).

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 players such as Fico Lopez, Mario Morales, José Sosa, Earl Brown, Jose Santos, Gustavo Santos, Papiro Leon, Papote Agosto and many others. The Mets made it to the BSN Playoffs every season during the 1980s, reaching the Finals 6 times (1980-1985, 1989) and winning 3 championships (1980, 1982 and 1989).

The Mets were able to acquire José and Gustavo Santos from the Río Piedras Cardinals whom they had defeated the previous year in the league semifinals. 5 players for two, arguably the largest trade in Puerto Rico basketball history at the time. The Mets were reborn with the Santos trade and looked to their minor league for future stars Papiro Leon, Fico Lopez, Papote Agosto. A 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 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. 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. Grossman and Linder then decided to revive the Mets de Guaynabo, five years after the original team left Guaynabo.

The team reintroduced themselves on December 17, 2019, in a press conference with Grossman, former Puerto Rico national basketball team general manager Alfredo Morales, Guaynabo Mayor Angel Perez Otero, and BSN President Ricardo Dalmau. During the press conference, team officials revealed the new team, the league's tenth, signed its first free agent, Angel Alamo. Alamo was a 34-year-old forward who had played previously for the Mets in 2012 and 2013. 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.

Recent Performance (2020–2024)

The 2020 season in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) marked the Mets return to the league after a five-year absence, having been reinstated with new ownership in 2019. The season, delayed and condensed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was played in a "bubble" format in Puerto Rico, starting in November 2020. The Mets showed promise in their comeback year, finishing the regular season with a competitive record and securing a spot in the playoffs. They advanced to the semifinals, a significant achievement for a team reestablishing itself, but their run ended with a 2-1 series loss to the Vaqueros de Bayamón, falling just short of their first BSN Finals appearance since 1993. The semifinal defeat came in a close Game 3, with Bayamón edging out a 79-76 victory. Key performances from players like David Stockton, who led with 40 points in a crucial regular season win, highlighted the Mets’ potential, setting the stage for their stronger showings in subsequent years. Overall, the 2020 season was a bittersweet but encouraging return for the Mets, blending a rollercoaster of challenges with a solid foundation for future success.

2021 season: Building on their semifinal appearance in 2020, the Mets showcased resilience and talent, ultimately reaching the BSN Finals.

In the regular season, the Mets finished with a strong 21-11 record, placing them among the league’s top teams and securing a favorable playoff seed. Their postseason run began with a quarterfinal matchup against the Leones de Ponce, whom they defeated 4-2 in a six-game series. A standout moment came in Game 6, when captain Jonathan Han hit a dramatic half-court buzzer-beater to clinch an 83-80 victory with the score tied at 80-80 and less than six seconds remaining—an iconic play that propelled them forward.

In the semifinals, the Mets faced the Vaqueros de Bayamón, the team that had eliminated them in 2020. This time, they pushed the series to seven games, splitting the first six with notable performances, including a 101-93 win in Game 2 led by Han’s 20 points. Despite Han’s hamstring injury sidelining him late in the series, the Mets prevailed 4-3, advancing to the Finals for the first time since 1993. Key contributions came from players like David Huertas, who earned MVP honors for the semifinals, and a balanced roster that included Ángel Rodríguez and Tyquan Rolón.

In the BSN Finals, the Mets met the Capitanes de Arecibo, a formidable opponent led by Walter Hodge. The series was competitive, with Guaynabo splitting the first two games—Arecibo won Game 1 (86-80), while the Mets took Game 2 (91-86). However, Arecibo gained momentum, winning Games 3 and 4 (85-71 and 96-85), putting the Mets on the brink. Guaynabo fought back with an 85-75 victory in Game 5, narrowing the series to 3-2, but Arecibo sealed the championship in Game 6 with a 90-79 win, taking the title 4-2.

The 2021 season was a breakthrough for the Mets, finishing as runners-up in their deepest playoff run since the early 1990s. With a mix of veteran leadership from Han and Huertas and emerging talent, they established themselves as a rising force in Puerto Rican basketball, setting the stage for future contention despite falling short of the championship.

The 2022 season was a step back from their impressive 2021 Finals run, marked by inconsistency and a failure to reach the playoffs. After finishing as runners-up the previous year, the Mets entered 2022 with high expectations under head coach Brad Greenberg but struggled to replicate their prior success. The Mets were unable to maintain the momentum from their 2021 semifinal and Finals appearances. Key players like Jonathan Han, Renaldo Balkman, and Tyquan Rolón remained on the roster, but the team’s cohesion faltered, and they finished outside the postseason picture. This disappointing outcome prompted adjustments in subsequent years, including the high-profile signing of DeMarcus Cousins in 2023, as the Mets sought to reclaim their competitive edge. The 2022 season thus stands as a rare stumble in the franchise’s otherwise strong resurgence.

The Mets acquired DeMarcus Cousins, a former NBA All-Star center just in time for the 2023 season, marking a significant moment for the franchise. Announced on April 11, 2023, Cousins signed with the team as a free agent at the age of 32, aiming to use the stint as a steppingstone to return to the NBA after going unsigned for the 2022-23 season. The Mets, recognizing his pedigree, brought him on board for the spring season, with team co-owner Marc Grossman praising Cousins as “one of the best basketball players of his generation” whose skills, particularly his ability to shoot and stretch the floor, would fit well in the BSN’s fast-paced style.

Cousins’ impact on the Mets during his 2023 tenure was notable both on and off the court. He delivered impressive statistical performances, averaging 20.4 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in 25.48 minutes, while shooting an efficient 44% from beyond the three-point line and 69% from the free-throw line. His presence elevated the team’s competitiveness, guiding them to the BSN playoffs and into the semifinals. However, their championship hopes were dashed by the Gigantes de Carolina , who eliminated the Mets in a hard-fought seven-game series. Cousins suffered an injury early in Game 6, sidelining him for about a week and potentially affecting the team’s late-series momentum, though he had already left a strong mark on their postseason run.

Overall, the 2023 season was a success for the Mets, marking their second semifinal appearance in three years since their 2019 reinstatement. Cousins’ impact, alongside contributions from veterans and emerging talent, solidified their status as a BSN contender, though they couldn’t reclaim the Finals glory of 2021.

In the 2024 season, the Mets continued to build on their competitive standing, though specific results remain incomplete as of early 2025. Their most recent documented game prior to the season’s conclusion was a loss to the Leones de Ponce (87-70), reflecting ongoing challenges against top-tier BSN teams. Over these four seasons, the Guaynabo Mets have solidified their return to prominence in Puerto Rican basketball, balancing playoff appearances with periods of adjustment under head coach José Juan Barea.

Team's Identity

Team Logo Evolution

• 
  (1976-2015)
• 
  (2019-2023)
• 
  (2023-Present)

Alternate Branding

• 
  Mets Retro Logo
• 
  Homage to Guaynabo City
• 
  Metro Star

Current roster

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

Mets de Guaynabo roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age G 0 Harris, Robert 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 34 – (1991-02-08)February 8, 1991 00 Roman Angueira, Jose G 1 Mauras, Khary 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 27 – (1998-01-23)January 23, 1998 2 Lee, Matthew G 6 Paige, Jaysean 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 30 – (1994-07-30)July 30, 1994 8 Lugo Sanchez, Carlos F 10 Williams, Derrick 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (110 kg) 33 – (1991-05-25)May 25, 1991 G 11 Cotton, Bryce 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 32 – (1992-08-11)August 11, 1992 G/F 12 Douglas, William 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 26 – (1998-11-21)November 21, 1998 G/F 17 Josiah, Jahvari 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 30 – (1994-07-30)July 30, 1994 21 Colon Mojica, Benjamin F 22 Andújar, Emmanuel 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 33 – (1992-01-27)January 27, 1992 F 24 Pearson, Ryan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 32 – (1993-02-20)February 20, 1993 PG 25 Boyd, Brandon 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 28 – (1997-01-03)January 3, 1997 F/C 28 Romero, Ismael 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 33 – (1991-06-23)June 23, 1991 F 45 Clavell, Gilberto 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 35 – (1989-08-10)August 10, 1989	Head coach J. J. Barea Assistant coach(es) Roy Casanova Alvin Cruz Alfredo Vélez Legend (C) Team captain (DC) Dual citizenship (I) Import player Injured Roster Updated: March 19, 2025

Notable players

• Mario "Quijote" Morales (born 1957) (1977–1998)
• Federico López Camacho (born 1962) (1981–1997)
• José Sosa (born 1959) (1977–1986)
• Renaldo Balkman (born 1984) (2020–2024)
• DeMarcus Cousins (born 1990) (2023)

External links

• Official website