2023 will reactivate the issue of the date of the BSN and the appointments of the National Team

Once again, in 2022 the schedule of the National Superior Basketball (BSN) collided with that of the commitments of the national basketball team, and on this occasion there was also the aggravation of matches reassigned by the commitments of the 3X3 program around the world.

For decades, managers, players, insiders and fans have proposed and weighed ideas to try to resolve the gap. But it is a matter of which comes first, the chicken or the egg. In other words, the national tournament (BSN) or the international performance (Puerto Rico Basketball Federation, FBPUR).

The manager of the Puerto Rican national team, Nelson Colón, who had the complete national team only three days before the qualifying window for the FIBA ​​World Cup 2023, said he was open to new ideas, but acknowledged that the date changes in the BSN did not have been effective.

“Starting in October, like the other leagues, has been complicated in Puerto Rico. We compete with many things at once. Our players play outside and the reinforcements too. It is a question of adapting ourselves and looking for a ‘happy medium’, as we have tried to do. We have to give way to new ideas and see how we can continue working together”, said the coach from Ponce.

Columbus (Cowboys) and his helpers Raphael Cruz (Arecibo) and Carlos Gonzalez (Carolina) They run everyone at the BSN. The tournament was stopped for a few days during this weekend’s window at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, as except José Alvarado and Justin Reyes, the rest of the players in the Puerto Rican team see action in the current tournament.

In addition, the BSN suspended and scheduled for after the original date of the end of the regular season a handful of games of the Atléticos de San Germán because some of its members also participate with the 3X3 national basketball team, which had commitments a few years ago. some weeks.

“The BSN is long and takes a lot of time. And there is a lot of international competition,” she said.

In the case of 3X3 players, Colón said that “for me, 3X3 players should be 3X3 players (only). It’s my opinion, and it’s because it’s going to help the 3X3 program to develop more and give it continuity in how that discipline is played”.

“I think we have two intelligent and capable people in Yum (Ramos, president of the FBPUR) and Ricardo (Dalmau, president of the BSN), who have good communication. Things are going to flow. They want the best for both institutions,” Colón continued.

“There is no competition between BSN and the Federation. Yes, sometimes calendars are going to collide. But they work in good faith and seek to try to make sure that everyone is at peace,” she added.

And if 2022 has been difficult, wait for 2023 to arrive.

The windows of Group E, to which Puerto Rico would go in the second round of the FIBA ​​World Cup qualifiers include matches in August and November 2022, as well as in February 2023. IF Puerto Rico qualifies, it would have to separate the dates between August 25 and September 10 to participate in the event that will be played in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

In addition, the Central American and Caribbean Games, which were postponed in 2022 due to the pandemic and other causes, will be held from June 23 to July 8, 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador. As if that were not enough, the Santiago 2022 Pan American Games continue to be scheduled to take place between October 20 and November 5.

When Colón was asked about how all those commitments plus the BSN would be handled, he suggested giving time to time.

“I think we have to wait to see the results of this year to see what happens next year. One thing at a time. I believe that with the favor of God we will qualify for the World Cup and then we will study the dates and concentrate on that”, concluded the leader.