Gigantes de Carolina (men's basketball)

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Gigantes de Carolina
Gigantes de Carolina logo
NicknameLa C
Carola
LeaguesBaloncesto Superior Nacional
Founded1971
HistoryGigantes de Carolina
(1971–2009; 2021–present)
ArenaGuillermo Angulo Coliseum
Capacity5,500
LocationCarolina, Puerto Rico
OwnershipHéctor Horta
Championships1 (4 finals)

The Gigantes de Carolina is a Puerto Rican professional basketball team in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional based in Carolina, Puerto Rico. After 12 years of inaction, they returned for the 2021 season.[1][2]

History[edit]

They've participated in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) from 1971 to 2009; with breaks in 1994, '98, '99, '05, '06, and '10. They have made the BSN Finals three times in their history, 1979 (vs. the Piratas de Quebradillas), 1997 (vs. Atléticos de San Germán), and 2008 (vs. Capitanes de Arecibo),[3] losing them all.

In 2008, the Gigantes advanced to the league's "Super 6" semifinals. The team earned a lead in this phase and came close to receiving a guaranteed spot in the league's final by defeating the Cangrejeros de Santurce in the final stages of the "Super 6".[4] The Gigantes entered this series with only two games left for qualification.[5] However, Santurce won the second game with score of 99–83.[6] Carolina eventually won the series and eliminated Santurce.[7] The Gigantes and the Capitanes were the teams that advanced to the finals.[8] The series extended to seven games, with both teams winning three games at home.[9] Arecibo won the seventh game with scores of 99–94.[10]

After 12 years of inaction, they returned for the 2021 season.[11][12]

On July 27 2023, the Gigantes De Carolina defeated the Bayamon Vaqueros 80-60 in Game 5 of the BSN Finals, to become the 2023 BSN Champions.[13][14]

Current roster[edit]

Gigantes de Carolina roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
SG 0 United States Mac, Sheldon Injured (I) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 31 – (1992-12-21)December 21, 1992
PG 2 Puerto Rico Ortiz, Evander 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 26 – (1997-07-14)July 14, 1997
PG 3 Puerto Rico Diaz, Guillermo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 39 – (1985-03-04)March 4, 1985
PF 6 United States Clark, Earl (I) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 234 lb (106 kg) 36 – (1988-01-17)January 17, 1988
PG 7 Puerto Rico García, Jonathan 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 36 – (1987-12-17)December 17, 1987
G 8 Puerto Rico Soto, Joseph 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 30 – (1993-05-01)May 1, 1993
PG 10 Puerto Rico Ortiz, José 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 28 – (1996-02-26)February 26, 1996
SF 12 Puerto Rico Carmona, Alejandro 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 40 – (1983-06-14)June 14, 1983
SG 15 Puerto Rico Cruz, Ismael 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 23 – (2000-09-13)September 13, 2000
G/F 20 Puerto Rico Cruz, Jesús 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 26 – (1998-02-12)February 12, 1998
G 21 Puerto Rico Rivera, Filiberto 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 41 – (1982-09-28)September 28, 1982
PF 23 United States Rudd, Victor (I) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (110 kg) 33 – (1991-03-18)March 18, 1991
F/C 25 Puerto Rico Torres, Julián 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 27 – (1997-03-18)March 18, 1997
C 35 Puerto Rico Manderson, Isaiah 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 29 – (1994-07-27)July 27, 1994
F 42 Puerto Rico Franklin, Alex 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 35 – (1988-07-11)July 11, 1988
Head coach
  • Puerto Rico Carlos Gonzalez
Assistant coach(es)
  • Puerto Rico Leonel Arill

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DC) Dual citizenship
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured

Updated: April 11, 2023


Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Victor Rudd Julián Torres Isaiah Manderson
PF Earl Clark JJ Romer Alejandro Carmona
SF Alex Franklin Jesús Cruz Jonathan García
SG Ismael Cruz Filiberto Rivera Evander Ortíz
PG Joseph Soto José Ortíz Guillermo Diaz

Notable players[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Con altas expectativas los Gigantes de Carolina en su retorno al BSN". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  2. ^ "2021 - Carolina Gigantes BSN". 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  3. ^ "LA HISTORIA DE LOS GIGANTES DE CAROLINA EN EL BSN". rumboalcamerino.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  4. ^ Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón (2008-06-12). "Los Gigantes hieren de muerte al rey Santurce" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  5. ^ "Carolina y Arecibo tras la final" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  6. ^ Lester Jiménez (2008-06-13). "¡Están vivos!" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  7. ^ Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón (2008-06-14). "¡GIGANTE! TRIUNFO PARA CAROLINA" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  8. ^ Lester Jiménez (2008-06-16). "Carolina vs. Arecibo: final candente" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  9. ^ Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón (2008-06-27). "¡Todo o nada en la 'Petaca'!" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  10. ^ Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón (2008-06-28). "Buster se crece y los Capitanes reinan" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  11. ^ "Con altas expectativas los Gigantes de Carolina en su retorno al BSN". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  12. ^ "2021 - Carolina Gigantes BSN". 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  13. ^ https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/baloncesto/notas/el-bsn-es-del-calenton-los-gigantes-de-carolina-se-coronan-campeones/
  14. ^ https://www.primerahora.com/deportes/baloncesto/videos/los-gigantes-de-carolina-celebran-su-primer-campeonato-en-el-bsn-283566/

External links[edit]