Juan Vicéns

Juan Vicéns was a basketball legend in Puerto Rico, where he is still considered among their greatest ever hoopsters. He led the Puerto Rican squad at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics, just missing a medal in Tokyo when they finished fourth. Vicéns also won two Pan American Games medals, with a silver in 1959 and a bronze in 1963. He was a four-time medalist at the Central American and Caribbean Games, winning golds in 1962 and 1966, silver in 1959, and bronze in 1954.

Vicéns greatest tournament was likely the 1959 World Championships, where he led Puerto Rico to a bronze medal, was named to the tournament All-Star Team, and was voted the Best Basketball Player in the World.

Vicéns played in college in the United States, starting at Marquette but then starring at Kansas State University, and in 1956 led them to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. At the end of the 1950s he was invited to try out for the New York Knicks of the NBA but declined the offer to stay in Puerto Rico.

In Puerto Rico, Vicéns played for 16 years with the Ponce Lions, leading them to seven league titles and 10 finals. He led the league in scoring in 1958 and was the league MVP in 1958 and 1960. He was also the first player to score 5,000 points in the league, retiring with 5,102.

Juan Vicéns retired from playing in 1966 but stayed involved in the sport as a radio commentator. In 1972 the Ponce basketball arena was named El Coloseo Juan “Pachìn” Vicens in his honor. In 1992 Ponce recognized his achievements with a plaque at the Park for Illustrious Ponce Citizens. In 1993 he was given the honor of being the final torchbearer to light the cauldron at the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games, held in Ponce.