View source for Mario Morales

{{Short description|Puerto Rican basketball player}}
{{family name hatnote|Morales|Micheo|lang=Spanish}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Mario Morales
| image = 
| caption = 
| team = 
| league = 
| position = 
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 200
| career_position = [[Forward (basketball)|Forward]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|11|13}}
| birth_place = 
| nationality = American
| career_start = 1975
| career_end = 1998
| years1 = 1975—1976
| team1 = [[Cangrejeros de Santurce (basketball)|Cangrejeros de Santurce]]
| years2 = 1977—1998
| team2 = [[Mets de Guaynabo (basketball)|Mets de Guaynabo]]
| years3 = 
| team3 = 
| years4 = 
| team4 = 
| coach_start = 
| coach_end = 
| cyears1 = 
| cteam1 = 
| cyears3 = 
| cteam3 = 
| cyears4 = 
| cteam4 = 
| cyears5 = 
| highlights = * 3× [[List of BSN champions|BSN champion]] (1980, 1982, 1989)
* 4× [[BSN Most Valuable Player Award|BSN Most Valuable Player]] (1980, 1982, 1983, 1993)
* 2× [[Baloncesto Superior Nacional Scoring Champion|BSN Scoring champion]] (1980, 1993)
* BSN Rookie of the Year (1975)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|PUR}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1979 Pan American Games|1979 San Juan]]|[[Basketball at the 1979 Pan American Games|Team]]}}
}}

'''Mario Morales Micheo''' (born November 13, 1957) is a Puerto Rican former professional basketball player, widely regarded as one of the greatest talents in the history of Puerto Rico's [[Baloncesto Superior Nacional]] (BSN). Nicknamed "Quijote" for his ability to excel in both scoring and leading teams to championships, Morales had a distinguished 24-season career in the BSN, primarily with the [[Cangrejeros de Santurce (basketball)|Cangrejeros de Santurce]] and the [[Mets de Guaynabo (basketball)|Mets de Guaynabo]].

Morales began his professional career in 1974 with the Cangrejeros de Santurce at age 17, while still in high school, and was named the BSN Rookie of the Year in 1975. He went on to become a four-time BSN Most Valuable Player (1980, 1982, 1983, 1993), a record shared with [[Juan "Pachín" Vicéns]] and [[Teófilo Cruz]]. Morales led the Mets de Guaynabo to three BSN championships (1980, 1982, 1989) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Baloncesto Superior Nacional |url=https://www.bsnpr.com/campeonatos/ }}</ref> and amassed 15,293 career points, making him the second-highest scorer in BSN history at the time of his retirement in 1998, behind only [[Georgie Torres]]. He also contributed to the team's silver medal at the [[1979 Pan American Games|1979 Pan American]] Games in San Juan.

Internationally, Morales represented Puerto Rico in two Olympic Games (1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona), showcasing his skills on a global stage. After a brief stint playing college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats in the 1975–76 season, where he averaged 4.7 points and 1.5 rebounds, he returned to Puerto Rico to focus on his professional career due to language challenges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympedia – Brian Morton |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/9028 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=www.olympedia.org}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball Index |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/villanova/men/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Following his retirement in 1998, the Guaynabo Mets Pavilion was renamed the [[Mario Morales Coliseum|Mario Quijote Morales Coliseum]] in his honor, and a large painting of him in a Mets uniform adorns its entrance.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.pressreader.com/puerto-rico/el-nuevo-dia1/20140308/282205123819331 |access-date=2025-03-31 |via=PressReader}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Develan estatua de Mario "Quijote" Morales en Guaynabo |url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/baloncesto/fotogalerias/develan-estatua-de-mario-quijote-morales-en-guaynabo/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=El Nuevo Día |language=es}}</ref>
==Biography==

=== Early Career and BSN Beginnings ===
Morales began his professional career in 1974 at age 17 with the Cangrejeros de Santurce in the BSN, while still attending [[Colegio De La Salle]] in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. His debut showcased his potential, and in 1975, he was named the BSN Rookie of the Year, a testament to his immediate impact. Morales’ early years with Santurce established him as a rising star, capable of competing against seasoned professionals despite his youth.

=== College Stint at Villanova ===
In the 1975–76 season, Morales briefly attended [[Villanova University]] in the United States, playing for the Wildcats men’s basketball team. He averaged 4.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, contributing to a 16–11 team record. Language barriers and personal reasons prompted his return to Puerto Rico after one season, forgoing a potential path to the NBA to focus on his professional career in the BSN.<ref name=":0" />

=== Dominance with the Mets de Guaynabo ===
In 1976, the Cangrejeros relocated to Guaynabo and became the Mets de Guaynabo, where Morales would spend the majority of his career. Alongside his brother-in-law Federico "Fico" López, he transformed the Mets into a powerhouse during the 1980s. Morales led the team to three BSN championships (1980, 1982, 1989) and eight finals appearances. His scoring ability and clutch performances earned him four BSN Most Valuable Player awards (1980, 1982, 1983, 1993), tying the record with legends Juan "Pachín" Vicéns and Teófilo Cruz. Over his career, Morales amassed 15,293 points, making him the second-highest scorer in BSN history at the time of his retirement in 1998, behind only Georgie Torres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Puerto Rico Travel Guide |url=https://www.puertoricotravel.guide |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=PuertoRico Travel Guide |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== International career ===
Morales joined Puerto Rico’s national basketball team in 1978, representing the island in numerous international competitions. He competed in two Olympic Games—Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992—where his skills impressed global audiences. Notably, he contributed to Puerto Rico’s silver medal at the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan. Morales missed earlier Olympics due to age restrictions (1976), Puerto Rico’s boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games, and the team’s failure to qualify in 1984. His international tenure solidified his reputation as a versatile and competitive player on the world stage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympedia – Brian Morton |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/9028 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=www.olympedia.org}}</ref>

=== Retirement ===
After he retired, the coliseum where he played for most of his career, [[Guaynabo]]'s Mets Pavilion, was renamed the [[Mario Morales Coliseum|Mario Quijote Morales Coliseum]]. There is a large painting of him in a Guaynabo Mets uniform just to the entrance of the coliseum. [[Pfizer]] made Morales a spokesperson for [[Viagra]] in 2004.

=== Legal troubles ===
On 4 June 2016, the [[Puerto Rico Police]] charged Morales with [[driving under the influence]]. An alcohol test showed he had an alcohol level of 0.17 percent, the maximum legal level in Puerto Rico being 0.08 percent.<ref>[https://www.metro.pr/pr/noticias/2016/06/05/detienen-quijote-morales-manejar-efectos-alcohol.html ''Detienen a “Quijote” Morales por manejar bajo los efectos del alcohol: Morales fue detenido inicialmente porque su pasajero no llevaba puesto el cinturón de seguridad.''] Metro.PR 5 June 2016. Accessed 25 August 2020. [https://www.metro.pr/pr/noticias/2016/06/05/detienen-quijote-morales-manejar-efectos-alcohol.html Archived] on 2020-08-25 at the Wayback Machine.</ref>

== Career statistics ==
Sources:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mario Morales College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mario-morales-1.html |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympedia – Mario Morales |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/6694 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=www.olympedia.org}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Category
!Details
|-
| colspan="2" |'''BSN Career (1974–1998)'''
|-
|Teams
|[[Cangrejeros de Santurce (basketball)|Cangrejeros de Santurce]] (1974–1975), [[Mets de Guaynabo (basketball)|Mets de Guaynabo]] (1976–1998)
|-
|Total Points
|15,293 (2nd all-time in BSN history at retirement)
|-
|Seasons Played
|24
|-
|Championships
|3 (1980, 1982, 1989 with Mets de Guaynabo)
|-
|Most Valuable Player Awards
|4 (1980, 1982, 1983, 1993) – Tied for BSN record
|-
|Rookie of the Year
|1975 (Cangrejeros de Santurce)
|-
|Notable Scoring Rank
|Surpassed by Georgie Torres (15,863 points) as BSN’s all-time leading scorer
|-
| colspan="2" |'''Villanova College (1975–76)'''
|-
|Games Played
|27
|-
|Points Per Game
|4.7
|-
|Rebounds Per Game
|1.5
|-
|Team Record
|16–11
|-
| colspan="2" |'''International Career'''
|-
|Olympic Appearances
|2 (1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona)
|-
|Pan American Games
|Silver Medal (1979, San Juan)
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Puerto Rico}}
* [[List of Puerto Ricans#Sports|List of Puerto Ricans – Sports]]
* [[Teófilo Cruz]]
* [[Raymond Dalmau]]

==References==
*{{Sports-Reference|mo/mario-morales-1}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bsnpr.com/jugadores/jugador.asp?id=1584&e= Statistics] in [[Baloncesto Superior Nacional|BSN]]
* [https://enciclopediapr.org/en/galleries/sports/gallery-basketball/ Gallery of Pictures of Puerto Rican players] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222110238/https://enciclopediapr.org/en/galleries/sports/gallery-basketball/ |date=2020-02-22 }} at enciclopediapr.org
* https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/villanova/1976.html
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|mario-morales-micheo}}

{{Navboxes
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| bg = Red
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{{Puerto Rico Men Basketball Squad 1979 Pan American Games}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morales, Mario}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Baloncesto Superior Nacional players]]
[[Category:Puerto Rico men's national basketball team players]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican men's basketball players]]
[[Category:1978 FIBA World Championship players]]
[[Category:Olympic basketball players for Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 1979 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 1983 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Pan American Games basketball players for Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists in basketball]]
[[Category:Forwards (basketball)]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1979 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Bayamón, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Mets de Guaynabo basketball players]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]