Quebradillas Pirates
Encyclopedia
The Piratas de Quebradillas (lit. "Quebradillas Pirates") is a Puerto Rican
basketball
team, part of the National Superior Basketball League. Founded in the 1930s, it is one of the original teams of the league. The team had its most successful era during the 1970s, when they won 4 championships -including a threepeat- and participated in 6 league finals. However, after the 2004 season the team suffered from financial problems which prevented them from participating for the following five seasons. They returned in 2009 with new players and a new arena as well as a trip to the league finals.
The Piratas are known for their loyal fan-base and extremely loud home games.
where signed by the team.
whom became rookie of the year and in 1969 Neftali Rivera who also became the rookie of the year would go on to become legends in Puerto Rican Basketball, also known as the dynamic duo. Together, these two players led the team to its first team championship during the 1970 season. This team was coached by Eric Geldhart and assisted by local talented coach Willie Padin.
The dominance of Quebradillas Pirates continued during the 1970s, including 8 trips to BSN finals. However, they were defeated in the finals by the Bayamon Cowboys in 1972, 73 and 75 and by Rio Piedras Cardinals in 1976; Quebradillas won the title again in 1977 through 1979 for a total of 8 finals in the 10 years of the 1970 decade. 1979 was their last Pirates championship and for dynamic duo whom went to play together until 1981. Quebradillas lost to the Mets in the finals in 1980 and 1982 (this one without Rivera) whom went to play for the Ponce Lions in 1982.
Dalmau went on to finish his career in Quebradillas in 1985 when the Pirates were eliminated in the quarter finals by the Morovis Titans
and Jimmy Ferrer, the team managed to make several postseason runs, but they never made it to the league finals. Raymond Dalmau himself coached the team on several occasions.
During the 1988 season, Quebradillas was coached by future NBA legendary coach Phil Jackson
who, at that time, had not yet found a contract with any NBA teams. After a poor season start, Quebradillas fired coach Jackson, who went on to win 11 NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls
and the Los Angeles Lakers
.
and Ricardo Dalmau
led the team to two consecutive BSN finals in 1999 and 2000. However, the team lost both finals to the Santurce Crabbers
which were led by NBA players José Ortíz
and Carlos Arroyo
.
After these finals appearances, Quebradillas continued to be a competitive team, reaching the league semi-finals in several occasions. However, the team confronted financial problems at the end of the 2003 seasons which led the league to declare every Pirate player a free agent. The financial problems where mostly attributed to the fact that the team played in a small 2,000 seat arena which hindered their capabilities to obtain significant financial endorsements.
The team played during the 2004 seasons with mostly amateur players and finished the season with a league-worst 5-25 record.
and it permitted the team to return to active league competition. Owner Carlos Rodríguez bought the rights to the Caguas Creoles
players and brought them to Quebradillas. Among them was current Puerto Rican National Team center Peter John Ramos
. Former Connecticut Huskies
star point guard Marcus Williams
joined the team as well as Australian forward Shawn Redhage
. Also, former Florida Gator
David Huertas
declined participating in his last NCAA season to join the team.
The team went on to establish a 22-8 record, second best on the league. They advanced to the league finals for the first time since 2000 against their legendary rivals, the Bayamon Cowboys. The Bayamon Cowboys won the series in 6 games, defeating the Pirates 84-82 in the final game.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team, part of the National Superior Basketball League. Founded in the 1930s, it is one of the original teams of the league. The team had its most successful era during the 1970s, when they won 4 championships -including a threepeat- and participated in 6 league finals. However, after the 2004 season the team suffered from financial problems which prevented them from participating for the following five seasons. They returned in 2009 with new players and a new arena as well as a trip to the league finals.
The Piratas are known for their loyal fan-base and extremely loud home games.
Early history
Quebradillas Pirates was founded in 1932 as one of the original five teams of the Puerto Rican Basketball League. Among its early star players where Teíque Linares and "Varilla" Lugo. The team participated in one league finales during the 1936 seasons, but the next three decades where characterized by poor performances during the tournament. This changed by the end of the 1960s when a new batch of Puerto Rican players born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where signed by the team.
The Dalmau Era (1969 - 1986)
In 1966 Quebradillas signed Raymond DalmauRaymond Dalmau
Raymond Dalmau Pérez is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player. During most of his career, Dalmau played in the National Superior Basketball league. His sons Richie, Christian and Ricardo also played basketball on the highest level of Puerto Rican basketball.-Career:Dalmau...
whom became rookie of the year and in 1969 Neftali Rivera who also became the rookie of the year would go on to become legends in Puerto Rican Basketball, also known as the dynamic duo. Together, these two players led the team to its first team championship during the 1970 season. This team was coached by Eric Geldhart and assisted by local talented coach Willie Padin.
The dominance of Quebradillas Pirates continued during the 1970s, including 8 trips to BSN finals. However, they were defeated in the finals by the Bayamon Cowboys in 1972, 73 and 75 and by Rio Piedras Cardinals in 1976; Quebradillas won the title again in 1977 through 1979 for a total of 8 finals in the 10 years of the 1970 decade. 1979 was their last Pirates championship and for dynamic duo whom went to play together until 1981. Quebradillas lost to the Mets in the finals in 1980 and 1982 (this one without Rivera) whom went to play for the Ponce Lions in 1982.
Dalmau went on to finish his career in Quebradillas in 1985 when the Pirates were eliminated in the quarter finals by the Morovis Titans
Decline
Following the retirement of Dalmau, Quebradillas struggled to keep their presence as a dominant team in the league. With players like Orlando VegaOrlando Vega
Orlando Vega Smith is a retired professional basketball player from Puerto Rico.-AAU Basketball:...
and Jimmy Ferrer, the team managed to make several postseason runs, but they never made it to the league finals. Raymond Dalmau himself coached the team on several occasions.
During the 1988 season, Quebradillas was coached by future NBA legendary coach Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson is a retired American professional basketball coach and player. Jackson is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Basketball Association . His reputation was established as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 through 1998;...
who, at that time, had not yet found a contract with any NBA teams. After a poor season start, Quebradillas fired coach Jackson, who went on to win 11 NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
and the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
The Second Dalmau Era and Financial Crisis
It would be the two sons of Raymond Dalmau which would return the Pirates to their former glory. RichieRichie Dalmau
Raymond Dalmau is a retired basketball player from Puerto Rico, the eldest son of the legendary Raymond Dalmau. He began his professional career in 1991 with the Capitanes de Arecibo under the guidance of his father. The next year he moved to the team where his father spent his career, the...
and Ricardo Dalmau
Ricardo Dalmau
Ricardo Dalmau Santana is the youngest of three children of the legendary basketball player Raymond Dalmau. He began his professional basketball career in 1995 with the Polluelos de Aibonito, under the coaching of his father. That year he earned the Puerto Rican League's Rookie of the Year Award...
led the team to two consecutive BSN finals in 1999 and 2000. However, the team lost both finals to the Santurce Crabbers
Santurce Crabbers
Cangrejeros de Santurce, Spanish for "Santurce Crabbers", refers to several teams based in San Juan, Puerto Rico:* Cangrejeros de Santurce , baseball team of the Puerto Rico Baseball League...
which were led by NBA players José Ortíz
José Ortiz
José Rafael Ortiz , better known as Piculín or Picu, is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player...
and Carlos Arroyo
Carlos Arroyo
Carlos Alberto Arroyo Bermúdez is a Puerto Rican professional basketball point guard who last played for the Boston Celtics. Arroyo is the fifth player from Puerto Rico to play in the NBA...
.
After these finals appearances, Quebradillas continued to be a competitive team, reaching the league semi-finals in several occasions. However, the team confronted financial problems at the end of the 2003 seasons which led the league to declare every Pirate player a free agent. The financial problems where mostly attributed to the fact that the team played in a small 2,000 seat arena which hindered their capabilities to obtain significant financial endorsements.
The team played during the 2004 seasons with mostly amateur players and finished the season with a league-worst 5-25 record.
Return to Success
The municipality of Quebradillas committed to the construction of a new arena which was finalized in 2008. This new arena was named after Raymond DalmauRaymond Dalmau Coliseum
The Raymond Dalmau Coliseum is located on Highway 2 in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. Its grand opening by Puerto Rican governor Anibal Acevedo Vilá and the mayor of Quebradillas, Heriberto Vélez Vélez, took place in 2008. Basketball and Badminton event for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean...
and it permitted the team to return to active league competition. Owner Carlos Rodríguez bought the rights to the Caguas Creoles
Caguas Creoles
Criollos de Caguas, Spanish for "Caguas Creoles", is the name of three professional sport teams of Caguas, Puerto Rico:* Criollos de Caguas , a basketball team in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional...
players and brought them to Quebradillas. Among them was current Puerto Rican National Team center Peter John Ramos
Peter John Ramos
Peter John Ramos is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player. He is the sixth player from Puerto Rico to play in an NBA game and the third Puerto Rican drafted by the NBA. Ramos has played in the NBA, the D-League and the National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico...
. Former Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
star point guard Marcus Williams
Marcus Williams
Marcus Williams may refer to:*Marcus Williams , former UConn Huskies guard, played for the New Jersey Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies...
joined the team as well as Australian forward Shawn Redhage
Shawn Redhage
Shawn Redhage is a naturalised Australian professional basketball player, originally from the United States...
. Also, former Florida Gator
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
David Huertas
David Huertas
David Huertas is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player. Huertas is a 6'5" shooting guard who currently plays professionally with Piratas de Quebradillas in the National Superior Basketball league...
declined participating in his last NCAA season to join the team.
The team went on to establish a 22-8 record, second best on the league. They advanced to the league finals for the first time since 2000 against their legendary rivals, the Bayamon Cowboys. The Bayamon Cowboys won the series in 6 games, defeating the Pirates 84-82 in the final game.