PUR - Puerto Rico without Santiago

SAN JUAN (FIBA Americas Championship) - Puerto Rico will play the upcoming FIBA Americas Championship without Daniel Santiago after the center announced his international retirement.

Santiago, who has spent 11 years with the national team, published a letter in El Nuevo Dia newspaper in which he revealed he wanted to concentrate on his domestic career.

“I’ve decided to focus on other points in my professional career in basketball,” said the 31-year-old Unicaja Malaga star.

“I wish the best to the team and thank them for all the opportunities I’ve been given to play in the national team.

“I’m proud and I’ve been blessed for having represented Puerto Rico at international level for the past 11 years.”

Coach Manuel Cintron was shocked by Santiago’s decision after reading about it in the paper.

“I’m sad because he abandons a lot of mates who went with him to war several times,” he said.

Puerto Rica squad: Carlos Arroyo, Jose Juan Barea, Filiberto Rivera, Larry Ayuso, Rick Apodaca, Carmelo Antrone Lee, Angel Figueroa, Ricky Sanchez, Angelo Reyes, Alex Falcon, Peter John Ramos, Hector Valenzuela.

Matias Greco
FIBA