Vaqueros de Bayamón
| Vaqueros de Bayamón | |||
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| Leagues | Baloncesto Superior Nacional | ||
| Founded | 1930 | ||
| History | Vaqueros de Bayamón (1930–present) | ||
| Arena | Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum | ||
| Capacity | 12,000 | ||
| Location | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | ||
| Team colors | Navy blue, gold, white | ||
| Head coach | Nelson Colón | ||
| Ownership | Yadier Molina | ||
| Championships | 16 (1933, 1935, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1988, 1995, 1996, 2009, 2020, 2022) | ||
| Retired numbers | 8 (4, 5, 9, 15, 16, 17, 17, 54) | ||
| Website | www | ||
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The Vaqueros de Bayamón are a professional basketball team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, who actively participate in the National Superior Basketball League (BSN). Founded in 1930, the team has been a significant participant in the development of basketball in Puerto Rico. They stage their home games at the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum. As of 2023, the Vaqueros have secured a total of 16 BSN championships, the most in the League's history. The team also holds a league record for winning 29 games during their 1993 season. The Vaqueros de Bayamón's contributions to the BSN have been instrumental in Puerto Rico's representation in the global basketball scene.
Rubén Rodríguez
Rubén Rodríguez, a stalwart of the Vaqueros de Bayamón, dedicated 23 seasons to the team, consistently donning the number 15 jersey. His debut season was in 1969, and over the course of his career, he amassed a substantial total of 11,549 points and 6,178 rebounds across 631 games, setting several significant records in the process:
- Career Points: 11,549
- Season Points: 810 (1979)
- Single Game Points: 52 (1973)
- Career Rebounds: 6,178
Rodríguez's record for rebounds in a season stood from 1978 until 2008 when Lee Benson, another Vaqueros' player, surpassed it on May 3, 2008.
Throughout his career, Rodríguez remained loyal to the Vaqueros, leading them to nine national championship victories, including a streak of five consecutive wins from 1971 to 1975, as well as triumphs in 1967, 1969, 1981, and 1988. His contributions were recognized with the MVP award in 1979. The 1980 season, which marked the introduction of the three-point shot in the Puerto Rican tournament, saw Rodríguez adapt his game, scoring from behind the new three-point line.
The Vaqueros commemorated Rodríguez's significant contributions by naming their home venue after him, the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum, which was inaugurated in 1988.
Franchise history
The Vaqueros de Bayamon, initially referred to as Bayamon, was established in 1930. As a part of the former amateur Baloncesto Nacional league, now known as Baloncesto Superior Nacional BSN, the team achieved its first league championships in 1933 and 1935 under the direction of Professional Head Coach Onofre Carballeira. The team's activities ceased throughout the 1940s due to WWII, and competition resumed in 1954.
During this time, the team rebranded as the Azules de Bayamón (lit. "Bayamon Blues") in Spanish, but no titles were secured during this period.
Subsequently, the team rebranded as The Vaqueros de Bayamon, a name inspired by their sponsor, Espasas Dairy Company. This era of rebranding marked a return to form, with a championship win in 1967 against the Ponce team. This marked their third championship and their first in 34 years. A further championship was obtained in 1969, consolidating their reputation in the league.
The 1970s were a period of success for the Vaqueros, with five consecutive championships won from 1971 to 1975. This period of success was overseen by a number of influential coaches, including Roy Rubbins, Art Loche, Lou Rossini, Fufi Santori, Tom Nissalke, and Del Harris.
The 1980s saw a new competitive dynamic emerge in the BSN as the Vaqueros competed against the Guaynabo Mets team, led by Mario Morales and Federico Lopez. In 1981, the Vaqueros de Bayamon emerged victorious in the final series against Guaynabo, obtaining another championship. The 1980s and 1990's saw further growth in the team's fanbase, and under the guidance of Robert Corn in 1988, the Vaqueros achieved another championship against the Canovanas team. The team secured additional championships in 1995 and 1996 against the Ponce Lions, with Flor Melendez serving as head coach.
The late 1990s and the early 2000s were a challenging period for the Vaqueros. From 1999 to 2008, the team had limited success reaching beyond the semifinals, with the exception of 2005, when they reached the finals but were defeated by the Arecibo Captains. This era saw a decline in the franchise's performance, prestige, and fanbase.
In 2009, the Vaqueros de Bayamon achieved a championship win against Quebradillas, ending a decade of stagnation. The 2010s saw a competitive but ultimately unsuccessful bid for a championship, marking the first title-less decade since the 1950s. However, the Vaqueros returned to championship form in the following decade, with wins in 2020 and 2022. This brought their total number of league titles to sixteen, placing them ahead of the San German Athletics in the league's historical standings. As of the current date, the Vaqueros de Bayamon are the reigning champions in the BSN league, demonstrating a significant return to form in the current decade.
Players
Current roster
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Updated: March 22, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Bench 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Ismael Romero | Jacob Wiley | Owen Pérez |
| PF | Jamil Wilson | Ryan Pearson | Nathaniel Butler Lind |
| SF | Benito Santiago Jr. | Johwen Villegas | Sammy Mojica |
| SG | Javier Mojica | Alexis Negrón | Bryan González |
| PG | Javier González | Brandon Davis | Robert Nieves |
Traditions
Uniforms
The Vaqueros have two different uniforms: a white home uniform and blue road uniform. The design of the white and blue sets are nearly identical, with the team name featured on the front over the number, and the player's last name over the number on the back and under the vaqueros' logo. The shorts have golden stripes on the sides of the pants and shirts in both designs.
Arena
The Vaqueros de Bayamón play their home games at the Rubén Rodriguez Coliseum, an arena inaugurated in 1988 and named after the team's former player. As Puerto Rico's third-largest indoor sports venue, the coliseum can comfortably host up to 13,000 fans, though it has been known to accommodate nearly 16,000 spectators during the team's finals.
The seating arrangement within the coliseum is divided into three sections:
- Box area (Palco) – blue section
- Middle area (Preferencia) – yellow section
- General area – orange section
Prior to the opening of the Rubén Rodriguez Coliseum in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Vaqueros played their home games at the Pepín Cestero Arena, a smaller arena also situated in Bayamón.
Logos
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Home uniform -
Road uniform -
Previously used logo -
Previously used logo -
Current logo
Fan base
Renowned for its extensive fandom, the Vaqueros experienced a slight decrease in support from 2000 to 2008, a period marked by limited success and no championships. At its peak in the 1990s, the Vaqueros' fanbase boasted over 12,000 fervent followers. A revival of enthusiasm was evident in the 2009 season, when the team clinched their 14th championship and witnessed a surge in attendance, drawing an estimated 14,000 spectators to the final game, over 11,000 of whom were estimated to be Vaqueros supporters.
In the 2014 Regular Season, and amid a stagnant decade for the team, the team still managed to average an impressive attendance of 4,723 fans per game, placing them amongst the BSN's most supported teams.[1] The Vaqueros' fervor extends to selling out every home final game since their golden era in the 1970s, earning them recognition as one of the BSN's most significant franchises according to numerous commentators.
Rivalries
The Vaqueros de Bayamón have been involved in significant rivalries throughout their history, often facing off against certain teams in multiple finals. Notable rivalries include:
- The Ponce Lions: A fierce rivalry that emerged during the late 1960s and resurfaced in the mid-1990s, showcasing intense competition between the Vaqueros and the Lions.
- The Quebradillas Pirates: A rivalry spanning from the early 1970s to the late 1990s, and reignited in 2009 with the addition of a key player, Dalmau, to the Vaqueros' roster. This renewed rivalry has seen both teams reaching the finals on multiple occasions.
- Río Piedras: An intense matchup between the Vaqueros and Río Piedras, highlighted by their encounters in 1969 and 1971.
- Guaynabo Mets: An engaging rivalry that unfolded in the early 1980s, featuring captivating contests between the Vaqueros and the Guaynabo Mets.
- Capitanes de Arecibo: A notable rivalry that emerged in 2005, with subsequent encounters in 2010 and 2018, showcasing fierce competition between the Vaqueros and the Capitanes de Arecibo.
- Vega Baja: A rivalry rooted in the early years of the franchise, specifically from 1933 to 1934, when the Vaqueros faced off against Vega Baja in memorable battles.
These rivalries have contributed to the excitement and history of the Vaqueros de Bayamón in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
Championships
What follows is a detailed list of every championship:
| Year | Team | Head coach | Against |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | ONOFRE CARBALLEIRA | Atléticos de San Germán |
| 1935 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | ONOFRE CARBALLEIRA | Vega Baja |
| 1967 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | ROY RUBBINS AND FUFI SANTORI | Leones de Ponce |
| 1969 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | ART LOCHE | Río Piedras |
| 1971 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | ART LOCHE | Río Piedras |
| 1972 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | TOM NISSALKE AND FUFI SANTORI | Piratas de Quebradillas |
| 1973 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | DEL HARRIS | Piratas de Quebradillas |
| 1974 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | DEL HARRIS | San Juan |
| 1975 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | DEL HARRIS | Piratas de Quebradillas |
| 1981 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | GENE BARTOW | Mets de Guaynabo |
| 1988 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | ROBERT CORN | Canóvanas |
| 1995 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | FLOR MELENDEZ | Leones de Ponce |
| 1996 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | FLOR MELENDEZ | Leones de Ponce |
| 2009 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | JULIO TORO | Piratas de Quebradillas |
| 2020 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | NELSON COLON | Piratas de Quebradillas |
| 2022 | Vaqueros de Bayamón | NELSON COLON | Atléticos de San Germán |
5: The Vaqueros have the record in the BSN for most consecutive championships: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.
2: The team won their last two consecutive championships in the years: 1995 and 1996.
Team records and achievements
The Vaqueros de Bayamon team holds several records in the BSN league:
- They are the only team to have won FIVE consecutive championships in the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975.
- With a total of 16 championships, they hold the record for the most BSN championships, won in the years: 1933, 1935, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1988, 1995, 1996, 2009, 2020 and 2022.
- They have been runners-up nine times: 1930, 1934, 1970, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2018.
Over the course of their history in the BSN (1930-Present), the Vaqueros de Bayamon also have:
- Competed in the most seasons with 81.
- Secured a record of 29 victories in a single season (1993), and a record of 23 losses in one season (1992).
- The team achieved the league's all-time highest game score with 143 points against Fajardo (121 points) in 1978.
- The team also holds a record of 29 consecutive victories across two seasons.
- Player Eddín Santiago made a record 16 assists in a single game (2004), while Michelo Dávila made 208 assists in the 1999 season.
- The record for most 3-pointers in a game is jointly held by Raymond Gausse (1992), Carmelo Travieso (2002), and Javier Mojica (2021), each scoring 9 3-pointers. Carmelo Travieso also made a record 101 3-pointers in the 2001 season.
- Carmelo Travieso scored a record 21 points in a single quarter in 2001.
References
External links
- vaquerosahi.com - Rancho Cibernético de los Vaqueros en el BSN. (in Spanish)
- bsnpr.com - Official site of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). (in Spanish)
- Vaqueros' Team History (in Spanish)