Nelson Colon grabs Puerto Rico reins ahead of November World Cup qualifying window

SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - The coach of Puerto Rican juggernauts Vaqueros de Bayamon, Nelson Colon, has been put in charge of the national team.

The 43-year-old's first aim will be to get the Boricuas to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Colon, who is leading his club side in the BSN playoffs, takes the helm of the national team that was led for six years by Eddie Casiano.

A couple of other head coaches in the BSN, Carlos González and Rafael "Pachy” Cruz, will serve as Colon's assistants.

"I'm ready," Colon said. "It has been a dream since I was a little boy."

When he was young, Colon had envisioned himself as a Boricua player. Making it as the coach is just as sweet, however.

"I didn't arrive as a player," Colon said, "but I kept working and I arrived in this way, as a coach. We have a group that's ready, has matured and we will work to raise our flag."

In the November window, Puerto Rico will play in Chihuahua City against hosts Mexico and then Cuba.

NBA champion Jose Barea, 37, is excited about the appointment of Colon.

In an interview with Nuevo Dia, Barea said: "I am very happy. Nelson is a coach who is proven and deserves the opportunity. He's well prepared, and the thing I like the most is that he's got basketball fever. He is a guy who will continue to improve and will never stop improving.

"He went to my NBA camps in Dallas like three or four times to learn and get experience."

Casiano, a national team star who competed at the 1992 and 2004 Olympics, guided the Boricuas to the 32-team World Cup in China and steered them to a 15th place finish. He also put a very hard-working, competitive side on the court at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade. Casiano had been under contract until 2023 but was relieved of his duties.

The president of the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation, Yum Ramos, said of Casiano: "He dedicated himself body and soul. The reason (for the change) was, simply, to give a change of vision to the new cycle."

For his part, Casiano on Tuesday made it very clear that he is backing the new coaching staff, tweeting: "Best wishes to the new National Coach @coachNC24 and his assistants @pachycruz13 and @cgonz004 in this new assignment to represent basketball in Puerto Rico. They have my full backing and support."

FIBA