By The Star Staff
The Carolina Giants will play at Carlos Miguel Mangual Coliseum in Canóvanas during the 2025 season of the National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) league, the team’s manager Héctor Horta confirmed earlier this week.
Horta said the decision was made after all resources were exhausted in the team’s efforts to persuade the municipal administration of Carolina and its mayor, José Carlos Aponte Dalmau, to reconsider their refusal to make Guillermo Angulo Coliseum available.
“We tried everything,” Horta said Tuesday in a written statement. “We exhausted all resources in good faith to be able to talk, but we never received communication from the municipality.”
“This year our family will move to a new home, Canóvanas,’ the manager said in a letter addressed to Giants (Gigantes) fans. “The land of the little giant Angelo Cruz, of the legendary Ramón Ramos, of a Charlie Bermúdez, of a Bernardo Figueroa, among others.”
“This season the team will bear the name of the Carolina/Canóvanas Giants,” he added. “We will be the bridge that will unite two towns, the route that will unite a region from the Metro to the entire East. Our most sincere thanks to our fans, season ticket holders and sponsors for their support throughout this process.”
In turn, Horta expressed gratitude for the support of Canóvanas Mayor Lornna Soto Villanueva and all the entities that have supported the transition, as well as district lawmakers in both chambers of the island Legislature.
“We are extremely grateful to the Municipality of Canóvanas and its mayor, Lornna Soto, for opening the doors of Carlos Miguel Mangual Coliseum to us,” he said. “In addition, we extend our gratitude to the BSN Board of Directors and its president Ricardo Dalmau for approving this transfer in record time for the benefit of the League and sports in general.”
Soto, meanwhile, celebrated the arrival of the Giants to her municipality.
“It is an honor to receive the Carolina Giants in Canóvanas,” the mayor said. “We will work together to ensure that the team and the fans have the best possible experience in our coliseum.”
As part of the transition plan, the Giants administration and the Municipality of Canóvanas will work together to ensure that the sports venue is in optimal condition for the season that will begin in mid-March.
Among the planned improvements to the coliseum is the installation of new seats in the “courtside” and box areas, bleachers in the general area, installation of an air-conditioning system and lighting. There also was an expansion of administrative offices, a VIP area for subscribers and sponsors, renovation of food booths and installation of an audiovisual system.
The total investment amounts to some $800,000, from private and public funds.
The change of venue was unanimously endorsed by the BSN. In addition, the league’s board of directors approved the freezing of Carolina’s position for an indefinite period as a show of support for Horta.
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