Eddie Casiano
Encyclopedia
Eddie Casiano Ojeda (born September 20, 1972 in New York
, United States
) is a Puerto Rican basketball
player
who was born in Manhattan, New York
. He plays in Puerto Rico
on the BSN
for the Ponce Lions
and is a member of the 2004 Puerto Rican National Basketball Team.
Casiano started his career as a BSN player with the San German Athletics
in 1988, alongside José Ortiz
and Nelson Quiñones. Because of the age of Casiano and Quiñones at the time, fifteen, the team was nicknamed by the media as Los Nenes de San German (San German's Boys), apart from the team's already existent Monstruo Anaranjado nickname (Orange Monster
s).
Casiano went to Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis and was teammates with North Carolina standout Eric Montross. He was heavily recruited to play division I NCAA basketball (Villanova, UNLV, Duke) but had previously signed in a professional league that only lasted for a couple of years and due to NCAA regulations he could not participate. He was in the roster of the Orlando Magic
of the NBA at one point in 1999 but never played.
In 1992, Casiano participated in his first Olympic Games
, joining Ortiz at the Puerto Rican National Basketball Team for the first time (He would return in 1996, 2000 and 2004, with Ortiz, to the Olympics.) In 2001 he was traded to the Ponce Lions
along with Bobby Joe Hatton
leading the team to the title two years later.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) is a Puerto Rican basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player
Player (game)
A player of a game is a participant therein. The term 'player' is used with this same meaning both in game theory and in ordinary recreational games....
who was born in Manhattan, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He plays in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
on the BSN
National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico
The Baloncesto Superior Nacional or BSN is the main Puerto Rican men's basketball league. It currently has 10 teams, but has had many teams in several cities of the island. The league was established in 1929. It has produced players that have distinguished themselves in the NBA, European Leagues,...
for the Ponce Lions
Ponce Lions (basketball)
The Leones de Ponce are a BSN basketball team based in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The Lions are one of the BSN's most successful franchises, having won a total of twelve championships...
and is a member of the 2004 Puerto Rican National Basketball Team.
Casiano started his career as a BSN player with the San German Athletics
San Germán Athletics
The Atleticos de San Germán also known as La Cuna del Baloncesto en Puerto Rico is a BSN basketball team from Puerto Rico...
in 1988, alongside José Ortiz
José Ortiz
José Rafael Ortiz , better known as Piculín or Picu, is a retired Puerto Rican professional basketball player...
and Nelson Quiñones. Because of the age of Casiano and Quiñones at the time, fifteen, the team was nicknamed by the media as Los Nenes de San German (San German's Boys), apart from the team's already existent Monstruo Anaranjado nickname (Orange Monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
s).
Casiano went to Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis and was teammates with North Carolina standout Eric Montross. He was heavily recruited to play division I NCAA basketball (Villanova, UNLV, Duke) but had previously signed in a professional league that only lasted for a couple of years and due to NCAA regulations he could not participate. He was in the roster of the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
of the NBA at one point in 1999 but never played.
In 1992, Casiano participated in his first Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, joining Ortiz at the Puerto Rican National Basketball Team for the first time (He would return in 1996, 2000 and 2004, with Ortiz, to the Olympics.) In 2001 he was traded to the Ponce Lions
Ponce Lions (basketball)
The Leones de Ponce are a BSN basketball team based in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The Lions are one of the BSN's most successful franchises, having won a total of twelve championships...
along with Bobby Joe Hatton
Bobby Joe Hatton
Roberto José Hatton Negron is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player. Hatton has most notably played for Marist College in the NCAA and the National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico with the Arecibo Captains, San Germán Athletics, and the Ponce Lions...
leading the team to the title two years later.