When the Puerto Rican base Angel Rodriguez announced his retirement from the National Basketball Team in January this year, the point guard of the Bayamón Vaqueros gave signs that he would not rejoin the team in the near future.
That was when the group was directed by Eddie Casiano and Puerto Rico was scheduled to participate in the third and final qualifying window for the Americup, which was held at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in February.
His decision also came after he was sanctioned by the local Basketball Federation for refusing to play in the second window and preferred to stay in the BSN bubble for fear of catching COVID-19.
Now things have turned upside down, after the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation fired Casiano and hired in his place coach Nelson Colón, who directs Rodríguez in the Vaqueros de Bayamón.
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I don’t want to comment on any of that. They were personal reasons. I never shared that with anyone and I won’t because I’m not that kind of person.
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With this new scenario, the player was emphatic that he will return to the National Team as soon as he recovers from the injury to his left hand. He won’t be ready to play in the first qualifying window for the 2023 World Cup in November in Mexico.
The last time Rodríguez was with the National Team was in the first AmeriCup window in February 2020 at Clemente and then in Washington, DC
“For me it has always been an honor to represent Puerto Rico. I decided to retire for personal reasons. But I always had in mind that I would return and wanted to return. With God’s favor, that may be close, ”the 28-year-old said in an interview with El Nuevo Día.
“I believe that if things flow as they should, as soon as I am healthy I will be representing the country,” he added.
This season’s BSN MVP declined to reveal the reasons why he announced his retirement and insisted that it is something he is not interested in sharing.
“I don’t want to comment on any of that. They were personal reasons. I never shared that with anyone and I won’t because I’m not that kind of person, ”he said.
Of course, he celebrated that his coach in Bayamón has reached the National Team.
“Knowing him as a person and leader, I am super happy for him. I believe that things happen when they have to. He is in a good moment of his career, I understand that people appreciate his work on the court. I did not see any other person other than Nelson taking that responsibility, “he said.
Do you receive the appointment of Nelson Colón with optimism?
“Yes. Telling you that it would not be lying. We have a good relationship and I am a fan of what he does as a manager, as a leader, ”he replied.
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