SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - The Puerto Rico Basketball Federation (FBPUR) announced on Friday the approval of a new Constitution put forward by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) that focuses broadening the participation of the island's basketball community in the electoral process of the national federation.

The new Constitution was conceptualized by FIBA Americas Secretary General Emeritus Mr. Jenaro "Tuto" Marchand, the Executive Director of FIBA in the Americas Mr. Alberto Garcia, with the legal counsel of Mr. Julio Eduardo and the support of the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation President Mr. Carlos Beltran and the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (national league) President Mr. Fernando Quiñones.

The new Constitution was approved on Thursday, December 17 by the Board of Directors of the national federation.

"This is the single most important achievement in the history of Puerto Rican basketball, for which I have been present for the last 60 years. This national federation will now truly respond to its nation and every member of the basketball community in the island. That is a gigantic step forward.", said Marchand.

The new Constitution touches upon every operational subject of the Puerto Rico national federation with special focus on its electoral process.

"It was a six vote election. There was no way of calling it a true representation of the basketball community in the island. Therein lies the revolutionary aspect of this new Constitution, where we expect up to 200 registered voters for the first Congress (electoral process).", added Marchand.

The first Congress will take place in April 2016 as stated in the new Constitution. The President, Secretary General, Treasurer and 8 members of the Public Interest of the federation will be elected in the Congress. Current national federation President Mr. Carlos Beltran has declared he will not run for reelection and will instead focus on helping in the transition.

"I'll make room for new people in the process. With this Constitution we are promoting the participation of more people and I want to be a facilitator in this process. Achieving this Constitution was one of my goals and I'm glad that it was achieved.", said Beltran to Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia.

The new registered voters in the Congress will be made up of leagues, clubs, players, coaches, referees, statisticians and every individual affiliated to the national federation in a membership process set to begin immediately.

"Everyone can be a member of the federation in a process that will in turn help the institution financially, which is one of the big operational problems that it faces at the moment. It will allow the federation to have income, helping in the professionalization of their duties. This, while becoming more democratized and transparent. It is a win-win.", said Marchand.

Another important change brought forward by the new Constitution is the regionalization of basketball in the island. It proposes the configuration of geographical region that will in turn be managed by regional associations and will focus on managing basketball competitions in each region throughout the year.

"In Puerto Rico there is basketball being played at the youth level all the time, but not by everyone, just a selected group. The regionalization will attend this, will provide the tools for the regions to be always active. This is nothing new, we are not inventing the wheel. Argentina and Uruguay do this in South America. This new Constitution will now see it to be implemented in Puerto Rico, one of the countries with the most tradition in the history of the sport worldwide. I'm certain this will bring incredible benefits.", said Executive Director of FIBA in the Americas Mr. Alberto Garcia.

Puerto Rico finished in fifth place in the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship, earning a spot in the 2016 FIBA Qualifying Tournament, where the team will look to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The country has not played in the Olympics since 2004 and has not made it out of the Group Phase in the FIBA Basketball World Cup since 2002.

"This is a country that in sports goes the way our basketball national team goes. Our performance has not been up to par in recent years and this new Constitution for our national federation looks inward and enlists the help and voice of everyone involved in basketball in the island. As our basketball federation gets stronger so will our results in the court. This new Constitution is an example that will surely influence the way other federations in our country and maybe in our continent work towards transparency and more democracy.", said Puerto Rico Olympic Committee President Ms. Sara Rosario.

Work on the newly approved Constitution will begin immediately with public conferences aimed at better understanding of the changes to be carried out in January 2016. Affiliation process for April's Congress will shortly follow.

"It is a great day for basketball in the country, but this is just the beginning. The real work starts now.", concluded Marchand.

FIBA