CAROLINA, PR – The Coach Nelson Columbus, three times champion of the Puerto Rico basketball league, will assume the reins of the Puerto Rican team for the upcoming Olympic cycle, the Puerto Rican federation announced on Monday.
The hiring of the Puerto Rican coach comes after the negotiations between the Fbpur and the former driver of the Argentine team, Sergio Hernandez, will be unsuccessful.
Accepting this challenge with my mother’s blessing is the best way to start this new professional opportunity. Thanks! @fbpur #Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 pic.twitter.com/EN5h9mpc1D
– Nelson Colon (@ coachNC24) October 25, 2021
Columbus won championships with the Ponce lions in 2014 and 2015 in the National Superior Basketball (BSN), to later be crowned in 2020 with the Bayamón Cowboys, your current team.
“I come with a genuine commitment,” said Colón. “We know that FIBA windows changed the way we work. We have to engage as quickly as possible because time is not what it seems,” he added. The coaching staff completes it Rafael ‘Pachy’ Cruz and Carlos Gonzalez.
Colón will debut in command of the Puerto Rican team at the end of November in two qualifying matches for the 2023 World Cup. The same, against Mexico and Cuba, respectively.
The young coach also indicated that, although he will not take full charge of the youth teams, he will be committed to the transition of new talents.
“I would not say that I am going to take charge,” he said. “I have a commitment to get involved with weight in the U15, U16 and U17. We will try as much as possible, so that those players go up,” he added. “There will be changes and we will evolve. We will try to implement a new work philosophy.”
On the other hand, the president of the Fbpur, Yum ramos, confirmed the information shared by the ‘Sheep’ Hernández in an interview with the program One against one. “Everyone is free to say what they think,” he said.
Hernández assured that his financial claims and those of the Fbpur were too far apart to accept the proposal. That they did not even reach “a third” of what he intended.
“There is no animosity with him (Hernández). It was a long and transparent process,” explained Ramos. “The interviews lasted two and three hours. It was an excellent sharing,” he said.
Arroyo, focused on his GM role
Meanwhile, the former player of the Puerto Rican national team – and who was appointed general manager of the same in the middle of this year – spoke about how his role will influence the future of the once ‘Magnificent 12’.
“It’s a team effort,” said Arroyo, who played with seven NBA organizations and also played for European clubs in the Euroleague.
“Players who wish to be here will be summoned. We want to give a special follow-up to young people like André Curbelo and Rafael Pinzón, among others”.
“They are the future. We are happy and during the march we will see what we can change and improve,” he said.
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Nelson Colón, PR technician: ‘We will implement a new philosophy’