Ismael Romero

Ismael Romero Fernández (born June 23, 1991) is a Cuban-Puerto Rican professional basketball player for Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), and the Puerto Rican national team. Romero formerly represented the Cuban national team. He played college basketball for Universidad del Turabo from Puerto Rico.

Ismael Romero
Romero with Puerto Rico during the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup
No. 28 – Vaqueros de Bayamón
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueBSN
Personal information
Born (1991-06-23) June 23, 1991
Santa Clara, Cuba
NationalityCuban / Puerto Rican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
CollegeUniversidad del Turabo (2011–2015)
NBA draft2013: undrafted
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2007–2011Villa Clara
2015–2016Grand Rapids Gold
2016Atléticos de San Germán
2016Panteras de Aguascalientes
2017Grand Rapids Drive
2017Atléticos de San Germán
2017–2019Vaqueros de Bayamón
2019–2021Quimsa
2021–2022Real Estelí
2022–2023Libertadores de Querétaro
2023–presentVaqueros de Bayamón
Career highlights and awards
  • BCL Americas champion (2020)
  • BCL Americas scoring leader (2023)
  • BCL Americas rebounding leader (2022)
  • 2× BSN champion (2020, 2022)
  • BSN Rookie of the Year (2016)
  • LSB Rookie of the Year (2011)

College career

After leaving Cuba, Romero attended the Universidad del Turabo of Puerto Rico where he helped his team to win, undefeated, the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico (LAI) in 2014.[1]

Professional career

In 2007, Romero joined local team Villa Clara, where he played for four seasons. On October 31, he was selected by the Grand Rapids Drive in the fourth round of the 2015 NBA Development League Draft.[2] On January 28, 2016, he made his D-League debut in a 90–87 win over the Iowa Energy, recording one point and one rebound in seven minutes.[3] On March 20, 2016, Romero had a double-double in a 102–97 win over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, finishing with 13 points, 14 rebounds and three steals, including nine points in the fourth quarter.[4] In 27 games, he averaged 5.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.[5]

On April 6, 2016, Romero signed with Atléticos de San Germán of the Puerto Rican League.[5] The next day, he made his debut for San Germán in a 90–75 loss to Vaqueros de Bayamón, recording 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal in 17 minutes.[6] On May 26, he was named the BSN Rookie of the Year.[7] In 17 games, he averaged 13.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 24.1 minutes.[8]

On August 30, 2016, Romero signed with Mexican team Panteras de Aguascalientes.[9] In 24 games, he averaged 18.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 23.8 minutes.[8]

Romero with Hapoel Haifa, 2017

On January 4, 2017, Romero was reacquired by the Grand Rapids Drive.[10] Two days later, he made his season debut for Grand Rapids in a 126–124 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors, recording six points, eight rebounds, one steal and two blocks in nine minutes off the bench.[11] On April 1, 2017, Romero signed with Atléticos de San Germán, returning to the team for a second stint.[12]

On July 7, 2017, Romero signed with Hapoel Haifa B.C.,[13] Israeli basketball team that play in the Liga Leumit.

International career

When Romero was 19, he played with the Cuba national basketball team at the 2012 Centrobasket, playing in an 81–61 loss against Bahamas.[14][15] That very night, Romero, along with four other players of the Cuban selection, abandoned the team and asked for political asylum in Puerto Rico.[16][17]

On September 13, 2021, the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation announced that they had initiated the naturalization process with FIBA for Romero to be able to represent the Puerto Rican national basketball team.[18] On October 5, 2021, FIBA authorized the request for Romero's naturalization making him eligible to represent Puerto Rico in future competitions.[19]

Awards and accomplishments

Club
Vaqueros de Bayamón
Quimsa

Individual

References
  1. "Taínos del Turabo y Vaqueras de Bayamón en el trono del baloncesto LAI". SistemaTV.com. April 8, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  2. "2015 NBA D-League Draft Board". NBA.com. October 31, 2015. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  3. "Drive Edge Energy In Overtime". NBA.com. January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  4. "Ismael Romero's big game helps Grand Rapids Drive rally to beat Fort Wayne". MLive.com. March 20, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  5. Modestti, Luis (April 6, 2016). "Atléticos firman a Ismael Romero". BSNPR.com (in Spanish). Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  6. "Regular Season Round 21: Bayamon - San German 90 - 75". Eurobasket.com.com. April 7, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  7. Modestti, Luis (May 26, 2016). "Ismael Romero de los Atléticos es el Novato del Año". BSNPR.com (in Spanish). Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  8. "Ismael Romero Player Profile". RealGM.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  9. "Ismael Romero Llega a las Panteras de Aguascalientes". palestraaguascalientes.com (in Spanish). August 30, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  10. "Drive Re-Acquire Ismael Romero". OurSportsCentral.com. January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  11. "Drive Top Warriors In Thriller". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  12. "ISMAEL ROMERO Y YAO LÓPEZ SIGUEN APORTANDO EN LA D-LEAGUE". canchalatina.com (in Spanish). February 21, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  13. "מועדון כדורסל הפועל חיפה - העמוד הרשמי". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  14. "2012 Centrobasket Championship for Men / Ismael Romero Fernandez". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  15. "Box Score - CUBA vs BAHAMAS". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  16. "Cinco cubanos desertan del equipo de baloncesto en Centrobásket". PrimeraHora.com (in Spanish). June 19, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  17. "Dan cara los 5 baloncelistas desertores cubanos". PrimeraHora.com (in Spanish). July 19, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  18. "Federación de Baloncesto de Puerto Rico comienza proceso de naturalización de Ysmael Romero". puertorico.basketball (in Spanish). September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  19. "OFICIAL: Ysmael Romero podrá vestir la camiseta de Puerto Rico tras autorización de FIBA". puertorico.basketball (in Spanish). October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
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