Official: Benito Santiago is no longer a cowboy and will now play under the tutelage of JJ Barea in Guaynabo

He National Superior Basketball (BSN) announced today, Saturday, the approval of the exchange that sends Benito Santiago Jr. and Ryan Pearson to the Guaynabo Mets from the Bayamon Vaqueros for Onzie Branch, Christian Pizarro and Oenis Medina.

The Mets also receive a second-round pick in the 2024 draft and a first-round pick in 2026.

The new day The transaction was advanced on Thursday.

The next season will begin on April 2 and Santiago will now play under the mandate of former Enebeis Jose Juan Barea, who will debut with the Mets.

Since his arrival in Bayamon along with forward Ysmael Romero in a change from San German in 2017, Santiago became one of the most popular members of the Vaqueros.

With the core composed of Romero, Javier Mojica and Angel Rodriguez, Santiago and Bayamon won championships in 2020 and 2022, with appearances in the finals in 2018 and, most recently, this year.

Bayamon lost the final in five games against the Carolina Giants. At the end of the 2023 season, Santiago, 34, seemed to lose the confidence of manager Nelson Colon and the basket player was relegated to the bench. This year, he averaged 10.6 points per game.

Santiago had a contract with the Vaqueros until 2025.