Looking to 2025 at BSN: Three boosts, playoff format change on the table

Posted on: August 18, 2024
Posted by: Oliver Walton
Posted in: sport

For the second year in a row, the final of the championship Basketball National Senior (BSN) It includes two teams from Division B.

This time, Osos de Manatí and Criollos de Caguas are competing for the championship.

Last year, the finalists were Vaqueros de Bayamón and Gigantes de Carolina.

In the last four semi-final series, only two teams from Division A have qualified: Atlético San Germain in 2023 and Leones de Ponce in 2024.

Last March, before the start of the tournament, the BSN President said, Ricardo Dalmaugave his vote to a proposal by A's manager Jose “Cheo” Rivera to change the postseason format. The idea is that each division would have a champion and then the winners of each group would go on to compete for the title in the tournament final.

The measure was voted in favour of the six teams in Division A and against by the six teams in Division B. Dalmau voted to approve the measure, but starting next year until 2027.

With the outcome of this season's competition, the six representatives of Section B will likely bring up the topic for discussion once the final series is over. Dalmau expressed that New Day Although the amendment was approved, it will be re-evaluated by the Board of Directors during the vacation period.

Dalmau raised the possibility of crowning a new champion to end the 2024 competition, and spoke about various topics such as the possibility of a third reinforcement returning to the tournament; the limited capacity of the Roger Mendoza Coliseum, home of the Creoles for the final matches; as well as the expressions of the Giants' manager Hector Horta About pausing the post-season in the event that players leave the tournament to join the national team, as happened this summer with Paris 2024 and the Olympic Games.

It's very likely that no one in local basketball expects a final between Manatee and Caguas this season. What do you think of the balance?

-It shows the competitive level of the league with teams that many people thought would never make it. It was certainly known that any team that participated in the BSN could make it. Well, these two teams made it. Caguas was consistent. It had its ups and downs. And Manate, everyone knew that once all of its players arrived, it would become a serious contender for the championship. Everyone saw the level they played. Manate showed a high level in the postseason, and the consistency that Caguas showed made it worth it. And its three reinforcements were essential.

Does it help the league that these two teams that finished with losing records last year are now in the final?

-It definitely helps because you believe in these markets, and in this case two relatively new markets in BSN, they will attract a lot of attention when they reach the final. People from your region and your town will support you. So it's very positive for the league and for them to reach the final.

For the second year in a row, two teams from Division B have reached the finals. I voted for a measure – to be implemented next year – where each division will have a champion to face in the final. Is this still in place next year?

– It's a discussion that will be had at the right time. This is not the time to go into these details, but that is changing. It is impossible to predict which team will be the strongest, because everyone is working hard to create competitive teams. In some ways, it could have been the other way around. These are the things that happen.

But this format change was voted on and approved with one champion per division to be implemented over the next three years.

-Yes, but every year the tournament rules are reviewed and voted on, which includes the division structure.

If the measure goes back to the board for discussion, it will certainly expect opposition from representatives of Division B as they do not favour changing the format of the play-off.

– It's a topic we'll address in due course. There will be a dialogue.

Although there is already a vote approved for this change, it is not certain that the champion of Division A will face the champion of Division B in the final next year?

-I will wait until the tournament rules are reviewed because the tournament rules are reviewed and voted on annually. It is not a mature topic yet. It has been approved, but it will be put on the table again.

Given the Roger Mendoza Coliseum, which seats 3,000 people, have you considered the possibility that if this series is extended, it could be moved to another facility with a larger capacity? Does the league have a say in this matter?

– It's not easy to do because you have a fan base, a mayor who supports you at all times. To take them to the final, it's not easy to do. At the moment, what I have is that we will play there and we will play there.

Can the league or the teams decide?

– We give teams spaces to do these exercises.

But it's in BSN's best interest, if the finals climax continues, to have more fans if the opportunity arises.

-Final. One would like it, but the sacrifices of all the components are also respected, working all year to reach the final. They have arrived and their decision is respected. At this moment, everything remains there.

We see Caguas reach the final with three reinforcements. They rightfully had them as an expansion franchise from Humacao in 2021. Now that they have gone to the postseason, they will lose one of them by 2025. However, the movement continues to approve the use of the third reinforcement for all teams, a measure that has been defeated twice in recent years. Are you thinking of re-voting?

-We'll get to it right now, but it's definitely a topic that will be discussed. We'll evaluate and what's best for BSN, for its fans and its players, is to try to find a balance. These are the measures that have been discussed with the goal of improving the league. It's healthy for the league.

Carolina was eliminated in the semi-finals and representative Hector Horta said in a written message that in the future the tournament should be stopped until the players in the national team arrive on time and adapt to the playing system again. Manatee, in the same case, managed to reach the final by eliminating the giants, what do you think of this opinion?

– Hector Horta has done a great job with the Carolina Giants. He has his opinion and it is respected. Everybody has different opinions. At the end of the day, what comes out of this board is the will of the group, even if it is not unanimous. It is a reasonable opinion and it is respected. The work you have done is recognized.

Do you understand that the way the 2024 tournament was organised, including the Olympic replay and the Olympics, was handled well?

Puerto Rico qualified for the Olympics, something that hadn't happened in 20 years, with 10 players playing in the Brazilian league. When you look at it, not just for BSN, but for basketball and sports in Puerto Rico and the region, it was positive.

Representatives may think alike, but they look out for their interests the same way. This is where the windows to qualify for the 2025 America's Cup come in.

– It is understood, and you have We have to acknowledge them and listen to them because they are valid arguments. In the next few years, we will not have the scenario that we had in 2024.