The historic rivalry between Puerto Rico’s Cangrejeros de Santurce and Vaqueros de Bayamón arrives in Orlando on Sunday, March 8, at the Kia Center. The Rivalry Showdown brings together two teams from the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), Puerto Rico’s top professional men’s basketball league.
The rivalry between Cangrejeros de Santurce and Vaqueros de Bayamón, known as the “Clásico de la Metro” (Metro Classic), is one of the most historic in Puerto Rican basketball. Both teams are from the San Juan metropolitan area, with Santurce being a district within San Juan and Bayamón a neighboring municipality just west of the capital. The Vaqueros hold the record for most BSN championships with 17 titles, including five consecutive from 1971 to 1975, while the Cangrejeros have won 8 championships, including four straight from 1999 to 2003.
“Bringing the Cangrejeros to Orlando is a firm step forward in our vision and international projection for the franchise,” said Rolando Hourruitiner, President of the Cangrejeros de Santurce. “This event represents an extraordinary opportunity to connect with the Puerto Rican diaspora, strengthen our brand, and showcase our players’ talent on a premier stage.”
Carlos Arroyo, co-owner of the Vaqueros de Bayamón and former Orlando Magic player, emphasized a connection to local fans. “This game holds very special meaning for us because it allows us to reach all of the Puerto Rican fans in Orlando who follow our league,” he said. “We understand that continuing to expand our brand will help increase the visibility of our product.”
Tickets start at $31 and go on sale Monday, February 17, at 10 a.m.
