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Larry Ayuso Declares a New Beginning for the Santurce Cangrejeros | Basketball

The past is the past.

That is the philosophy that now haunts the dressing room of the Santurce Cangrejeros since the ex-canastero Elías “Larry” Ayuso gave instructions as a leader after the departure of the experienced Argentine coach Néstor “Che” García, last Monday.

“The message has been given in the dressing room. What was past, was past. This is a new beginning for us. Another mentality,” Ayuso said in a press conference after Sunday’s game at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot.

Santurce returned to the winning route – in Ayuso’s debut in the ‘Choliseo’ lines – when they decisively defeated the Quebradillas Pirates 102-78 on Sunday night.

Ayuso replaced García, who left the team to attend “future personal and professional commitments,” as announced by the general manager, René Morales. Even before his departure, the Cangrejeros played for 7-9.

But in the return to the winning route this Sunday, after a crushing 88-56 defeat against the Brujos de Guayama, the Santiago quintet had a solid performance from Isaac Sosa. The three-pointer scored 24 points, three rebounds and two assists. He made six 3s in 11 attempts.

The second offensive voice was the former American Nebeist Thomas Robinson, who was unstoppable with a double-double of 22 points and 18 rebounds.

The triumph also marked Ayuso’s return to the National Superior Basketball lines (BSN) after leading Atléticos de San Germán until the quarterfinals of the 2020 season, which was played in a bubble, in Rio Grande, against a second upturn in covid-19 cases on the island.

“At home you have to win all the games. But day by day. This is day by day,” reiterated Ayuso. “Thank God everything went well. Everyone is very optimistic. We are happy with this good result. We will continue working,” he said.

Ayuso – who was already Garcia’s assistant – has former Canastera Carla Cortijo and the experienced Luis Armando “Mandy” Cancel on the coaching staff.

The Cangrejeros march in third place in Section B with a record of 8-9.

For his part, the point guard and captain of the team, Filiberto Rivera, was pleased with the resurgence of the team heading into the second half of the BSN regular season.

“The best of all is that since this gentleman came here, as a ‘coach’, we had four excellent practices with a plan from the beginning. All focused. The difference was seen. My credits to him and to the ‘coaches'”, said Rivera, who is just recovering from an injury.

The Cangrejeros still do not have the former Mayaguez Nebeist José Juan Barea, who is recovering from a bone contusion in his left ankle, the result of a sprain on July 23.

His return is in doubt due to his commitments as a scout for the Dallas Mavericks, in the NBA, as of September 28, with the start of training camps towards the 2021-2022 season.

Santurce will play again on Wednesday – at 8:00 pm – against the Carolina Giants at the Puerto Rico Coliseum.

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