Ángel Figueroa
Encyclopedia
Ángel Luis "Buster" Figueroa Sepúlveda (born October 13, 1981) is a Puerto Rican
professional basketball player who currently plays for the Mets Guaynabo of the BSN league in Puerto Rico. He was a member of the Puerto Rico National Basketball Team in 2006.
in 1999. In his first two years he competed with the Guaynabo Mets. On his rookie year he won the Rookie of the Year award after having an average of 15.4 points per game. After two seasons playing for Guaynabo he was traded to the Arecibo Captains in 2001. With Arecibo, Figueroa would be selected to the league's All-Star game on multiple occasions. In between, Figueroa was the nation's leading scorer in NCAA's Division II during the 2001–2002 season at Dowling College. In 2005 he helped the Arecibo Captains win the league's national championship with an average of 19.0 points per game. Figueroa was the National Superior Basketball league's scoring champion in 2006 with an average of 20.7 points per game. During the off-season, he played a single game with Dinamo Basket Sassari
of the LegADue
, scoring 21 points and capturing 5 rebounds. Figueroa finished the 2007 regular season as the league's top scorer with an average of 24.6 points per game. His performance gained him a participation in the league's All-Star game. Due to his performance in the BSN he was selected to play in the national basketball team, in which he served as a back-up forward. In 2008 he finished the regular BSN in the second scoring position with an average of 21.5 points per game. He was once again selected as a starter in the All-Star game, being the player that received most fan votes in the pre-game poll. On June 6, 2008, Figueroa received the BSN Most Outstanding Player award. He also finished in the second position of the league's MVP votation, receiving 27 votes. In Arecibo Figueroa helped the team win the third BSN Championship in the franchise's history, and was selected the BSN Final's MVP. In the series' final game he scored 33 points and grabbed 22 rebounds against Carolina Giants.
(LNBP). On October 1, 2009, he made his debut against Cosmos, scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Figueroa concluded his first week with 34 points, 15 rebounds and 3 steals in games against the Soles and Potros. He then scored 18 points in two consecutive games, before scoring a season-low 10 points to close the week. In his next game, Figueroa recorded 21 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals against Panteras. In the Lobos' next game, he scored 16 points, with the game marking the first time that he did not make a steal in the season. On October 29, 2009, Figueroa recorded his first double-double of the season against Abejas, with 21 points and 10 rebounds. To close the first month, he registered 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. After two weeks of inactivity, Figueroa returned but fell into a brief offensive slump, scoring 11 and 12 points in his next two games, but also recovering 17 rebounds. Figueroa improved in a game against Barreteros, where he scored 21 points and 7 rebounds. In the last game of November, he scored 20 points, 8 points and a steal.
in the Central American and Caribbean Games
where Puerto Rico went on to win the gold medal finishing with an undefeated record. He was selected as a member of the national team that participated in the 2006 FIBA World Championship
, but he was unable to compete due to injury. In June 2008, the national team's directives announced that Figueroa did not have a guaranteed spot in the team. This was product of a new team initiative which focused on height.
In the 2008 FIBA Americas League
, Figueroa once again joined Arecibo. In the team's debut against Pioneros, he scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and one steal. Against Merengueros, he had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. In Arecibo's final game, Figueroa scored a tournament-high of 26 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
professional basketball player who currently plays for the Mets Guaynabo of the BSN league in Puerto Rico. He was a member of the Puerto Rico National Basketball Team in 2006.
Baloncesto Superior Nacional
Figueroa made his professional debut in the National Superior Basketball League of Puerto RicoPuerto 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...
in 1999. In his first two years he competed with the Guaynabo Mets. On his rookie year he won the Rookie of the Year award after having an average of 15.4 points per game. After two seasons playing for Guaynabo he was traded to the Arecibo Captains in 2001. With Arecibo, Figueroa would be selected to the league's All-Star game on multiple occasions. In between, Figueroa was the nation's leading scorer in NCAA's Division II during the 2001–2002 season at Dowling College. In 2005 he helped the Arecibo Captains win the league's national championship with an average of 19.0 points per game. Figueroa was the National Superior Basketball league's scoring champion in 2006 with an average of 20.7 points per game. During the off-season, he played a single game with Dinamo Basket Sassari
Dinamo Basket Sassari
Dinamo Basket Sassari is an Italian professional basketball club based in Sassari, Sardinia.The club plays in the Italian Serie A, the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball....
of the LegADue
LegADue
Legadue or Lega2 is the second-highest division of professional club basketball in Italy since 2001-2002 season...
, scoring 21 points and capturing 5 rebounds. Figueroa finished the 2007 regular season as the league's top scorer with an average of 24.6 points per game. His performance gained him a participation in the league's All-Star game. Due to his performance in the BSN he was selected to play in the national basketball team, in which he served as a back-up forward. In 2008 he finished the regular BSN in the second scoring position with an average of 21.5 points per game. He was once again selected as a starter in the All-Star game, being the player that received most fan votes in the pre-game poll. On June 6, 2008, Figueroa received the BSN Most Outstanding Player award. He also finished in the second position of the league's MVP votation, receiving 27 votes. In Arecibo Figueroa helped the team win the third BSN Championship in the franchise's history, and was selected the BSN Final's MVP. In the series' final game he scored 33 points and grabbed 22 rebounds against Carolina Giants.
Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional
Following his participation in the BSN, Figueroa signed a contract with the Lobos Grises UAD of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto ProfesionalLiga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional
The Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional is the top professional basketball league in Mexico. The league was founded in 2000 with 11 teams, expanding to 24 as of 2008...
(LNBP). On October 1, 2009, he made his debut against Cosmos, scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Figueroa concluded his first week with 34 points, 15 rebounds and 3 steals in games against the Soles and Potros. He then scored 18 points in two consecutive games, before scoring a season-low 10 points to close the week. In his next game, Figueroa recorded 21 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals against Panteras. In the Lobos' next game, he scored 16 points, with the game marking the first time that he did not make a steal in the season. On October 29, 2009, Figueroa recorded his first double-double of the season against Abejas, with 21 points and 10 rebounds. To close the first month, he registered 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. After two weeks of inactivity, Figueroa returned but fell into a brief offensive slump, scoring 11 and 12 points in his next two games, but also recovering 17 rebounds. Figueroa improved in a game against Barreteros, where he scored 21 points and 7 rebounds. In the last game of November, he scored 20 points, 8 points and a steal.
International career
In 2006, Figueroa competed for the Puerto Rico national basketball teamPuerto Rico national basketball team
The Puerto Rico men's national basketball team represents Puerto Rico in international basketball competitions such as the Olympics, the World Championship, and the Americas Championship...
in the Central American and Caribbean Games
Central American and Caribbean Games
The Central American and Caribbean Games are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennial , typically in the middle year between Summer Olympics...
where Puerto Rico went on to win the gold medal finishing with an undefeated record. He was selected as a member of the national team that participated in the 2006 FIBA World Championship
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
, but he was unable to compete due to injury. In June 2008, the national team's directives announced that Figueroa did not have a guaranteed spot in the team. This was product of a new team initiative which focused on height.
In the 2008 FIBA Americas League
FIBA Americas League
The FIBA Americas League is an international men's basketball club cup competition played annually by clubs of Americas, and is organized by FIBA Americas. The first edition started on December 4, 2007.-Format:The 16 participating clubs are divided in four groups of four teams each...
, Figueroa once again joined Arecibo. In the team's debut against Pioneros, he scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and one steal. Against Merengueros, he had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. In Arecibo's final game, Figueroa scored a tournament-high of 26 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals.