Ismael Romero Explained

Ismael Romero
Position:Power forward / center
Height Ft:6
Height In:9
Weight Lb:220
League:BSN
Team:Mets de Guaynabo
Number:28
Nationality:Cuban / Puerto Rican
Birth Date:23 June 1991
Birth Place:Santa Clara, Cuba
College:Universidad del Turabo (2011–2015)
Draft Year:2013
Career Start:2015
Years1:2007–2011
Team1:Villa Clara
Years2:2015–2016
Team2:Grand Rapids Gold
Years3:2016
Team3:Atléticos de San Germán
Years4:2016
Team4:Panteras de Aguascalientes
Years5:2017
Team5:Grand Rapids Drive
Years6:2017
Team6:Atléticos de San Germán
Years7:2017–2019
Team7:Vaqueros de Bayamón
Years8:2019–2021
Team8:Quimsa
Years9:2021–2022
Team9:Real Estelí
Years10:2022–2023
Team10:Libertadores de Querétaro
Years11:2023–2024
Team11:Vaqueros de Bayamón
Years12:2024–present
Team12:Mets de Guaynabo
Highlights:
  • BCL Americas champion (2020)
  • BCL Americas scoring leader (2023)
  • BCL Americas rebounding leader (2022)
  • BSN champion (2020, 2022)
  • BSN Rookie of the Year (2016)
  • LSB Rookie of the Year (2011)

Ismael Romero Fernández (born June 23, 1991) is a Cuban-Puerto Rican professional basketball player for the Mets de Guaynabo 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.

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. 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.

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Taínos del Turabo y Vaqueras de Bayamón en el trono del baloncesto LAI. April 8, 2014. SistemaTV.com. December 4, 2015.
  2. Web site: 2015 NBA D-League Draft Board. October 31, 2015. NBA.com. December 4, 2015. October 22, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161022072934/http://dleague.nba.com/news/2015-nba-d-league-draft-board/. dead.
  3. Web site: Drive Edge Energy In Overtime. January 28, 2016. NBA.com. January 28, 2016. January 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160131220616/http://dleague.nba.com/games/20160128/GRDIWA/. dead.
  4. Web site: Ismael Romero's big game helps Grand Rapids Drive rally to beat Fort Wayne. March 21, 2016. MLive.com. March 20, 2016.
  5. Web site: Luis. Modestti. Atléticos firman a Ismael Romero. BSNPR.com. April 6, 2016. April 9, 2016. Spanish.
  6. Web site: Regular Season Round 21: Bayamon - San German 90 - 75. Eurobasket.com.com. April 7, 2016. April 9, 2016.
  7. Web site: Luis. Modestti. Ismael Romero de los Atléticos es el Novato del Año. BSNPR.com. May 26, 2016. May 30, 2016. Spanish.
  8. Web site: Ismael Romero Player Profile. RealGM.com. January 4, 2017.
  9. Web site: Ismael Romero Llega a las Panteras de Aguascalientes. palestraaguascalientes.com. August 30, 2016. September 4, 2016. Spanish.
  10. Web site: Drive Re-Acquire Ismael Romero. OurSportsCentral.com. January 4, 2017. January 4, 2017.
  11. Web site: Drive Top Warriors In Thriller. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.. January 6, 2017. January 6, 2017.
  12. Web site: ISMAEL ROMERO Y YAO LÓPEZ SIGUEN APORTANDO EN LA D-LEAGUE. canchalatina.com. February 21, 2017. April 1, 2017. Spanish.
  13. Web site: מועדון כדורסל הפועל חיפה - העמוד הרשמי. www.facebook.com. en. 2017-07-07.
  14. Web site: 2012 Centrobasket Championship for Men / Ismael Romero Fernandez. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517145726/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/95064/sid/9006/tid/268/_/2012_Centrobasket_Championship_for_Men/index.html. dead. May 17, 2014. FIBA.com. December 4, 2015.
  15. Web site: Box Score - CUBA vs BAHAMAS. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517200844/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/1/grid/A/rid/9068/sid/9006/_/2012_Centrobasket_Championship_for_Men/statistic.html. dead. May 17, 2014. FIBA.com. December 4, 2015.
  16. Web site: Cinco cubanos desertan del equipo de baloncesto en Centrobásket. June 19, 2012. PrimeraHora.com. December 4, 2015. Spanish.
  17. Web site: Dan cara los 5 baloncelistas desertores cubanos. July 19, 2012. PrimeraHora.com. December 4, 2015. Spanish.
  18. News: Federación de Baloncesto de Puerto Rico comienza proceso de naturalización de Ysmael Romero. September 13, 2021. puertorico.basketball. September 13, 2021. Spanish.
  19. News: OFICIAL: Ysmael Romero podrá vestir la camiseta de Puerto Rico tras autorización de FIBA. October 5, 2021. puertorico.basketball. October 22, 2021. Spanish.