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The ''Criollos'' professional basketball team began to play during the 1976 season, joining their counterparts the '' Criollos '' of Baseball . Unlike their baseball counterparts, however, the basketball ''Criollos'' did not enjoy a wild and steady success, instead settling for moderate success. The ''Criollos'', with Cayey's native Willie Melendez and Caguas native Willie Quiñones on their side, reached the semi-finals in 1984 . Melendez was traded to the ''Polluelos de Aibonito'' the following season, however, and The Criollos then went on a downward spiral, going 12-21 in 1986 , 7-23 in 1987 , 9-24 in 1988 and 10-20 in 1989 . It should be noted that Quinones, although the Criollos only once posted a winning record with him as a player, always refused to be traded as he declared over and over again that he would only play for his hometown's team. He is a member of the exclusive group of basketball players that have scored 5,000 or more points in Puerto Rican basketball history, 5,000 points being a coveted number because of the relatively small number of games played each year (from 30 to 33 games per season). In 1987 , Caguas Mayor Angel O. Berrios took over as team owner. In the 1990s , a Criollos revival began, and he hired such players as Luis Allende and Orlando 'Guayacan' Santiago . The Criollos reached the semi-finals again in 2002 , and got to the playoffs in 2003 , losing in the first round. The ''Criollos'' decided not to play during the 2005 BSN season, partly because of economical reasons. , but returned for the 2006 season. |