Struggling Start for Leones de Ponce in 2024 BSN Season

After two weeks since the 2024 season of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) began, the Leones de Ponce are the only team that has not tasted a victory.

Needless to say, the Lions’ start has been a nightmare. Ponce lost its first two games by a margin of 21 and 35 points, and these beatings were enough for them to replace Argentine manager Sergio “Oveja” Hernández with Carlos Rivera.

The rain did not stop for the cats in the next match, as they lost again despite the fact that the coach was Carlos Morales in the absence of Rivera due to personal commitments. And although he did not want to confirm whether Hernández’s second departure was a resignation or a dismissal, the general manager of the Lions, Gabriel Ortiz, assured that in the “Pearl of the South” there is no panic due to the slow start and they trust that Rivera will take them to the winning route.

“It is a matter of continuing to improve with the new direction of Carlos Rivera. Yes, we are 0-3, but the vast majority of teams have at least one or two defeats, so by winning one or two games you are already in the fight,” Ortiz commented in a telephone interview with Primera Hora.

Sergio Hernández led the Leones de Ponce in two games before he left the team for the second time. (Supplied / BSN)

Heading into Wednesday’s game, the Lions are at the bottom of Section A with a record of 0-3. The Atlético de San Germán are in fifth position in the standings with a 1-4 record, while the Piratas de Quebradillas are fourth with a 3-3 record.

Despite the situation they find themselves in, the Ponceña franchise placed its trust in Rivera, who played 11 of his 18 seasons in the BSN with the Lions. That experience in the local league played an important role in deciding who would be Hernandez’s replacement. However, Ortiz reiterated that having the former point guard as a strategist was always in management’s plans.

“Last season was just his first year without being a player. In the middle of the season we had to make management changes and he didn’t feel ready. This year the scenario was different,” said the general manager.

“We understand that with already a year of experience assisting Sergio Hernández and Carlos Morales… It had to be someone who knew the league. It couldn’t be someone external and Carlos met all those requirements,” he added.

Thursday will be Rivera’s first game as manager of the Lions when they host the Manatí Bears at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium. The Bears are not having their best moment either, falling in their last four games.

Jamil Wilson dunks in the challenge match between the Leones de Ponce and the Indios de Mayagüez. (Jorge A Ramirez Portela)

But the change in direction was not the only adjustment Ponce made to the 0-3 start. The Ponceño franchise announced on Tuesday that import Jamil Wilson returned to replace Jalen Harris.

“Jamil Wilson should help us with the rhythm. He is a player who improves us on both sides of the court and makes the game flow more… It is a bit of the continuity that we had last year,” said Ortiz.

Last season, Wilson averaged 11.2 points and seven rebounds in 18 games and was a crucial piece in the cats’ resurgence during the last stretch of the 2023 tournament. However, Ortiz announced that the arrival of the imported forward is not the only move that the franchise is contemplating, since they have several options on the table such as the possible return of Thomas Robinson.

The former Enebeista was also one of the main figures in Ponce’s advance with Morales in command at the climax of last season.

2024-04-17 23:10:46
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