San Germán Athletics

BSN
color1 = #000000 | color2 = #d68421
name = San German Athletics

imagesize = 100px
division = Isla Division
coliseum = Arquelio Torres Ramírez Coliseum
city = San Germán, Puerto Rico
colors = Orange
coach = Flor Melendez
league_champs = 13 (1932, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1997)
last = 4-6, Failed to reach Semi-Finals

San Germán Athletics (Los Atleticos de San Germán) also known as "La Cuna del Baloncesto en Puerto Rico" is a BSN basketball team from Puerto Rico. San German has won thirteen championships (ten from 1932 to 1950, one in 1985 and in 1991, 1994, 1997).

Following the 1985 championship, San Germán began to develop many young, talented players who would later lead them to several more championships, the first coming in 1991 when development of these players peaked. Under the guidance and stellar play of José (Piculín) Ortiz, los Atleticos won their second championship in six years. The 1991 team, however was quite different from the '85 team. It was very young (with the exception of Ortiz) and for that reason received the nickname of "Los Nenes" (The boys). It included Eddie Casiano, Nelson Quinones, Luis Allende and Oscar Santiago, the core of Los Atleticos who won the championship in 1994.

Soon after, public feuds between Ortiz and the team owner led the star center to move to Europe to play in Greece. The young players then reaching the height of their careers then won another championship for San Germán. In 1997, Eddie Casiano carried the team to victory over an underdog Carolina team. The great play of Quiñones and Casiano led San Germán to their league leading 14th championship.

A change of ownership and more disputes eventually led San Germán to trade Eddie Casiano to "Leones de Ponce". Ortiz returned from Europe, but was then traded to "Cangrejeros de Santurce". Both players have won champioships with their respective teams while San Germán is still in the hunt for the 15th championship. San Germán is now led by Christian Dalmau and Rick Apodaca. These two players, now on the National team, hope to break a nine year drought in 2007 and bring the championship back to San Germán, which is considered by many to be one of the most traditional and dominant teams in the league.

External links

* [http://www.atleticos.org/ The Official Atleticos Web Page]