| Cariduros de Fajardo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| League | BSN | ||
| Founded | 1973 | ||
| History | Cariduros de Fajardo (1973–1998; 2007–2008; 2017–2020; 2021–2023) | ||
| Arena | Tomás Dones Coliseum | ||
| Location | Fajardo, Puerto Rico | ||
| Team colors | |||
| Team manager | Jorge Otero | ||
| Ownership | Wilson López | ||
| Championships | 0 | ||
| Division/Conference titles | 0 | ||
Cariduros de Fajardo were a professionalbasketball team of theBaloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), founded in 1973. Based inFajardo, Puerto Rico, the team played at the Tomás Dones Coliseum, and contested the BSN, the top division ofbasketball inPuerto Rico.
The team was founded in 1973 and participated in theBaloncesto Superior Nacional before folding in 1998 due to financial issues. The original franchise featured notable players such as Georgie Torres, Edgar León, Wilson Oquendo, Oscar Fuentes and Daniel Vasallo, as well as coach Julio Toro. The team played at the Evaristo Aponte Sanabria court before moving to the Tomas Dones Coliseum in 1992. Their best season was that same year, when they reached the semifinals for the first time in franchise history before being swept by the eventual finals runners-up, Capitanes de Arecibo. In 1996, Fajardo added rookie Carlos Arroyo, who became a fan favorite before being traded to Santurce. The team folded in 1998.
In 2007, the Titanes de Morovis and owner Marcelino Garcia relocated to Fajardo where the team was renamed Nietos de Marcelino. Taking advantage of a new rule that allowed grandsons of Puerto Ricans to enter the draft, Fajardo drafted Javier Mojica, Jesse Pellot-Rosa and Kevin Hamilton, as well as import player Uka Agbai. With a roster of young players, the team finished in 1st place during the regular season, and then went on to lose against the eventual 2007 champions, Cangrejeros de Santurce, in the semifinals. The team again faced financial issues the following year and dissolved after three years of inactivity, but individual players would go on to see success: Javier Mojica won a championship with Bayamón, Kevin Hamilton won a championship with Mayagüez and Jesse Pellot-Rosa was named league MVP with San Germán.
On January 14, 2017, the team was re-founded for the2017 season with the purchase of theAtenienses de Manatí franchise by formerNBA playerCarlos Arroyo and later relocation to his hometown inFajardo, Puerto Rico.[1]
In May 2021, the team was sold and converted to the Gigantes de Carolina. The following month, theSanteros de Aguada were relocated to Fajardo, where they again play as the Cariduros de Fajardo.[2]In December 2023, it was announced that the team will be relocated back toAguada and be known by their former nameSanteros de Aguada.
