Los Criollos de Caguas will continue playing at the Coliseo Roger Mendoza during the Baloncesto Nacional de Puerto Rico (BSN) semifinal against los Leones de Ponce.
Despite a possible move to nearby municipalities to expand seating capacity, the Roger will remain home for Caguas fans and visiting teams.
"We came here with the purpose of creating something that gives us a sense that we're doing things the way we want to do them. That's why we decided last night. Every game we have left, we're going to play at the Roger Mendoza," said Ric Elias, owner of los Criollos, before the second game against Ponce at the Juan Pachin Vicéns.
Elias called on fans to come to the arena during the postseason, where the team plans to hold events and set up outdoor screens. "It would be beautiful for the people of Caguas to come out there and represent us."
The "Presión" team is expected to play indefinitely at the Roger (capacity 3,000) until renovations are completed on the former Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, which was damaged by Hurricane María in 2017.
The roads lead to Ponce
Today, los Leones will host Caguas at the same arena that Elias, who played basketball as a child and teenager, visited at age 17 as a guest to practice with the team for a summer.
"Ponce has a tremendous fan base. My dad is from Ponce, and it's one of those towns that is very passionate about its team. I know it will be tough for us to play there," the owner said.
Caguas, which has not faced Ponce since 2006, when they reached the finals for the first time, currently leads the series 1-0.
Los Criollos coach Wilhemus Caneen will also revisit history on Ponce soil, five years after leading los Leones to a finals series.
"Tonight it's going to be beautiful to go back there and see the court where I practiced," Elias concluded.
Cover photo: Xavier García/Platea
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
