Leones de Ponce (basketball)

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Leones de Ponce is a professional basketball team from Ponce, Puerto Rico. They compete in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) and have also taken part in the FIBA Americas League.

Key facts
- Founded: 1946
- Home arena: Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns (in Ponce). The venue opened in 1972 and was named after the local legend Juan “Pachín” Vicéns. It now seats about 8,000 fans.
- Team colors: red, black, and white
- Nickname: The Lions (El Leones)

Championships
- BSN champions: 14 titles (years: 1952, 1954, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015)
- Notable eras:
- 1950s–1960s: Early dominance with star player Juan Vicéns; coaches like Tex Winter and Red Holzman helped shape the team.
- 1990s: A famous run with the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” (Agosto, Lanauze, Colón, Ríos) leading to multiple finals and titles.
- 2000s–2010s: A pair of championships in 2014 and 2015, with the 2015 title dedicated to the late mayor Rafael Cordero.
- Hiatus: The team sat out the 2011–12 BSN season due to financial difficulties.

International competition
- 2014: Debuted in the FIBA Americas League (LDA) as BSN runners-up, competing in Group B in Montevideo.
- 2017: Returned to the LDA with players like Carlos Arroyo, Filiberto Rivera, Hakim Warrick, and Eric Dawson; hosted Group D at the Juan Pachín Vicéns Auditorium and reached the Final Four.
- 2018–2019: Participated again in the FIBA Americas League, with rosters adjusted due to injuries and other changes; 2019 saw participation in Group D.

Overview
Leones de Ponce is one of Puerto Rico’s most storied basketball clubs, known for a long history of success in the BSN, memorable stars and coaches, a dedicated home crowd at the Juan Pachín Vicéns Auditorium, and several forays into international competition.