Cariduros de Fajardo were a professional basketball team of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), founded in 1973. Based in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, the team plays at the Tomás Dones Coliseum, and contests the BSN, the top division of basketball in Puerto Rico.

Cariduros de Fajardo
Cariduros de Fajardo logo
LeagueBSN
Founded1973
HistoryCariduros de Fajardo
(1973–1998; 2007–2008; 2017–2020; 2021–2023)
ArenaTomás Dones Coliseum
LocationFajardo, Puerto Rico
Team colors     
Team managerJorge Otero
OwnershipWilson López
Championships0
Division/Conference titles0

History edit

 
Logo used during the Arroyo relaunch.

The team was founded in 1973 and participated in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional before folding in 1998 due to financial issues. The original franchise featured notable players such as Georgie Torres, Edgar León, Wilson Oquendo, Oscar Fuentes and Daniel Vasallo, as well as coach Julio Toro. The team played at the Evaristo Aponte Sanabria court before moving to the Tomas Dones Coliseum in 1992. Their best season was that same year, when they reached the semifinals for the first time in franchise history before being swept by the eventual finals runners-up, Capitanes de Arecibo. In 1996, Fajardo added rookie Carlos Arroyo, who became a fan favorite before being traded to Santurce. The team folded in 1998.

In 2007, the Titanes de Morovis and owner Marcelino Garcia relocated to Fajardo where the team was renamed Nietos de Marcelino. Taking advantage of a new rule that allowed grandsons of Puerto Ricans to enter the draft, Fajardo drafted Javier Mojica, Jesse Pellot-Rosa and Kevin Hamilton, as well as import player Uka Agbai. With a roster of young players, the team finished in 1st place during the regular season, and then went on to lose against the eventual 2007 champions, Cangrejeros de Santurce, in the semifinals. The team again faced financial issues the following year and dissolved after three years of inactivity, but individual players would go on to see success: Javier Mojica won a championship with Bayamón, Kevin Hamilton won a championship with Mayagüez and Jesse Pellot-Rosa was named league MVP with San Germán.

On January 14, 2017, the team was re-founded for the 2017 season with the purchase of the Atenienses de Manatí franchise by former NBA player Carlos Arroyo and later relocation to his hometown in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.[1]

In May 2021, the team was sold and converted to the Gigantes de Carolina. The following month, the Santeros de Aguada were relocated to Fajardo, where they again play as the Cariduros de Fajardo.[2] In December 2023, it was announced that the team will be relocated back to Aguada and be known by their former name Santeros de Aguada.

Home arenas edit

  • Evaristo Aponte Sanabria Coliseum (1973–1992)
  • Tomás Dones Coliseum (1993–2020)

Current roster edit

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

Cariduros de Fajardo roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt.
G 2   Oquendo, Angel 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg)
SG 3   Ortíz, Eric 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg)
C 5   Santos, Miguel 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg)
PG 7   Maura, K. J. 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg)
F 9   Clark, Cameron 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg)
PG 11   Abreu Vásquez, Alex 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg)
PF 12   Toro Barea, Arnaldo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 246 lb (112 kg)
SF 14   Vaughn, Dimencio 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg)
SG 15   Febres, Jase 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg)
SG 18   Piñeiro, Juan Pablo 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg)
PG 21   Gandía, Iván 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 193 lb (88 kg)
SF 22   Andújar, Emmanuel 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg)
C 32   Holman, Eli (I) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 260 lb (118 kg)
F/C 41   García, Ángel 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg)
F/C 43   Brady, Chris 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg)
Head coach
  •   Allans Colón
Assistant coach(es)
  •   Javier Rolón
  •   Jorge Otero
  •   Jean Serrano

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import player
  •   Injured

Updated: March 20, 2023

Depth chart edit

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Eli Holman Ángel García Miguel Santos
PF Cameron Clark Chris Brady Arnaldo Toro
SF Emmanuel Andújar Dimencio Vaughn Eric Ortíz
SG Juan Pablo Piñeiro Jase Febres Angel Oquendo
PG Alex Abreu Vásquez K. J. Maura Iván Gandía

Notable players edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Carlos Arroyo cerró acuerdo para traer de vuelta a los Cariduros" (in Spanish). PrimeraHora.com. January 14, 2017.
  2. ^ "Junta de Gobierno del BSN aprueba traslado de emergencia de los Santeros de Aguada a Fajardo". bsnpr.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-06-21.

External links edit