Panama men's national basketball team

The Panama men's national basketball team (Spanish: selección de baloncesto de Panamá) represents Panama in men's international basketball competitions,^[2] The team represents both FIBA and FIBA Americas.

Panama

FIBA ranking	57 1 (25 February 2025)[1]
Joined FIBA	1958
FIBA zone	FIBA Americas
National federation	Federación Panameña de Baloncesto
Coach	Flor Meléndez
Olympic Games
Appearances	1
Medals	None
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	4
Medals	None
FIBA AmeriCup
Appearances	13
Medals	None
Home Away

With four qualifications to the Basketball World Cup, one qualification to the Olympic Games, and one medal at the Pan American Games, Panama has traditionally been the dominant basketball power in Central America.

History

Basketball in Panama rose to international prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, when the men's national team emerged as one of the strongest in Central America and the Caribbean.

Panama made its debut at the FIBA World Championship in 1970, finishing 9th overall. This marked the country's first appearance on the global stage, showcasing a new generation of Panamanian talent.^[3]

The team enjoyed its golden era during the 1970s. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Panama qualified for the Olympic basketball tournament for the first time in its history, finishing in 9th place.^[4]

Regionally, Panama became a regular contender in the FIBA AmeriCup (formerly the Tournament of the Americas). The team won the bronze medal at the 1967 Pan American Games and continued to challenge regional powers such as Puerto Rico and Brazil.

After a period of decline in the 1980s and 1990s, Panama returned to the World Cup stage in 2006, qualifying for the tournament in Japan. Despite a difficult group, the appearance reestablished Panama’s presence among the top teams of the Americas.^[5]

In the 21st century, the national team has remained competitive in the FIBA AmeriCup and FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification (Americas) cycles. While facing challenges from larger basketball nations in the region, Panama continues to serve as one of the traditional basketball powers of Central America, producing players who have competed professionally in Europe, South America, and the United States.

Tournament record

Olympic Games

• 1968 – 12th

FIBA World Cup

• 1970 – 9th
• 1982 – 9th
• 1986 – 19th
• 2006 – 21st

Pan American Games

• 1951 – 6th
• 1967 – (3rd place)
• 1971 – 6th
• 1979 – 7th
• 1987 – 6th
• 2007 – 5th

FIBA AmeriCup

• 1984 – 4th
• 1989 – 11th
• 1992 – 8th
• 1993 – 8th
• 1999 – 9th
• 2001 – 6th
• 2005 – 5th
• 2007 – 9th
• 2009 – 8th
• 2011 – 8th
• 2015 – 7th
• 2017 – 12th
• 2022 – 11th
• 2025 – Qualified

Central American Championship

• 1995 – 4th place
• 1999 – 4th place
• 2001 – (3rd place)
• 2004 – (3rd place)
• 2006 – (1st place)
• 2008 – 6th
• 2010 – (3rd place)
• 2012 – 4th
• 2014 – 5th

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup.^[6]

Panama men's national basketball team – 2022 FIBA AmeriCup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F 3 Alejandro Grant 28 – (1993-10-03)3 October 1993 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Panteras de Aguascalientes PG 4 Isaac Hall 19 – (2002-10-27)27 October 2002 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Panteras de Aguascalientes PG 5 Trevor Gaskins (C) 32 – (1989-11-24)24 November 1989 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Unifacisa Paraiba C 6 Aldimir Castillo 19 – (2003-01-02)2 January 2003 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Correcaminos de Colón C 7 Daniel King 35 – (1987-07-25)25 July 1987 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) S.D. Atlético Nacional C 8 Jonathan King 32 – (1990-01-25)25 January 1990 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) S.D. Atlético Nacional F 10 Josimar Ayarza 35 – (1987-05-03)3 May 1987 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Titanes de Barranquilla F 16 Eric Romero 23 – (1999-06-01)1 June 1999 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Libertadores de Querétaro PG 20 José Montenegro 23 – (1998-09-03)3 September 1998 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Caballos de Coclé F 21 Gil Atencio 26 – (1996-06-05)5 June 1996 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Dragones de Don Bosco F 24 Aaron Gedeon 23 – (1999-03-11)11 March 1999 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Toros de Chiriquí PG 55 Carlos Rodríguez 28 – (1994-08-02)2 August 1994 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Caballos de Coclé	Head coach Flor Meléndez[7] Assistant coach(es) Alberto Duque Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes current or most recent club Age – describes age on 2 September 2022

Former players

Panama men's national basketball team players roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club SG — Anell Alexis 25 – (1990-02-28)28 February 1990 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Norfolk St. Spartans C — Eduardo Archibold 28 – (1987-05-19)19 May 1987 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Le Moyne College F — Josimar Ayarza 28 – (1987-05-03)3 May 1987 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Atletico Echague Parana F — Tony Bishop 26 – (1989-07-16)16 July 1989 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Bremerhaven PG — Derrick Bolanos 22 – (1993-07-28)28 July 1993 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Barry Buccaneers SG — Nate Butler 26 – (1989-03-21)21 March 1989 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Atenienses de Manatí SF — Gary Forbes 30 – (1985-02-25)25 February 1985 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Springfield Armor F/C — Rubén Garcés 41 – (1973-10-17)17 October 1973 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Club Malvin F/C — Antonio Garcia 39 – (1976-05-11)11 May 1976 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Panteras PG — Trevor Gaskins 25 – (1989-11-24)24 November 1989 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Correcaminos Colon F/C — Miguel Gotti 24 – (1990-10-28)28 October 1990 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) C.E. Denver San Salvador F/C — Jordan Henriquez 26 – (1989-08-29)29 August 1989 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) Jena SF — Michael Hicks 39 – (1976-08-04)4 August 1976 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Hebraica y Macabi F — Jamelle Horne 26 – (1988-11-04)4 November 1988 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Toyama Grouses SG — Jhamar Johnson 34 – (1981-06-25)25 June 1981 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Navieros de Colón F — Edward Jones 29 – (1986-02-12)12 February 1986 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Santurce F — Daniel King 28 – (1987-07-25)25 July 1987 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Rapidos de la Union SF — Jonathan King 25 – (1990-01-25)25 January 1990 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Cojute C — Jamaal Levy 32 – (1983-01-08)8 January 1983 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Estudiantes Bahía Blanca C — Jose Lloreda 34 – (1980-11-10)10 November 1980 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Atenienses de Manatí PG — Joel Muñoz 35 – (1980-06-24)24 June 1980 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Leones de Managua SF — Ernesto Oglivie 26 – (1989-06-30)30 June 1989 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) San Marcos SG — J. R. Pinnock 31 – (1983-12-11)11 December 1983 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Huracanes del Atlántico PF — Gyno Pomare 29 – (1986-04-05)5 April 1986 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Aomori Wat's PG — Chris Prescott 26 – (1989-01-20)20 January 1989 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Saint Peter's Peacocks SG — Isaac St. Rose 31 – (1983-11-12)12 November 1983 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Sanatura-Escazu F/C — Joel Tesis 33 – (1982-03-19)19 March 1982 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Panteras SG — Chris Levour Warren 34 – (1981-01-19)19 January 1981 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Karpoš Sokoli PG — Jamahr Warren 36 – (1979-02-18)18 February 1979 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) –	Legend Club field describes latest professional club Age field is age on August 30, 2015

Head coach position

• Nolan Richardson: 2005
• Guillermo Vecchio: 2006
• Nolan Richardson: 2007

Past rosters

1968 Olympic Games: finished 12th among 16 teams

Davis Peralta, Norris Webb, Luis Sinclair, Pedro Rivas, Eliecer Ellis, Calixto Malcom, Nicolás Noé Alvarado, Ernesto Arturo Agard, Francisco Checa, Julio Osorio, Pércibal Eduardo Blades, Ramón Reyes (Coach: Eugenio Luzcando)

1970 World Championship: finished 9th among 13 teams

Davis Peralta, Luis Sinclair, Pedro Rivas, Ernesto Arturo Agard, Julio Osorio, Pércibal Eduardo Blades, Julio Andrade, Herbert Cousins, Ronald Walton, Cecilio Straker, Mario Peart, Hector Montalvo (Coach: Carl Pirelli Minetti)

1982 World Championship: finished 9th among 13 teams

Ernesto "Tito" Malcolm, Rolando Frazer, Mario Butler, Rodolfo Gill, Fernando Pinillo, Reggie Grenald, Braulio Rivas, Arturo Brown, Mario Galvez, Adolfo Medrick, Eddie Joe Chávez, Alfonso Smith (Coach: Jim Baron)

1986 World Championship: finished 19th among 24 teams

Ernesto "Tito" Malcolm, Mario Butler, Rolando Frazer, Reggie Grenald, Rodolfo Gill, Fernando Pinillo, Braulio Rivas, Adolfo Medrick, Cirilo Escalona, Mario Gálvez, Enrique Grenald, Daniel Macias (Coach: Frank Holness)

2006 World Championship: finished 21st among 24 teams

Ed Cota, Rubén Garcés, Jaime Lloreda, Ruben Douglas, Michael Hicks, Maximiliano "Max" Gómez, Eric Omar Cardenas, Kevin Daley, Antonio Enrique García, Jair Peralta, Jamaal Levy, Dionisio Gómez (Coach: Guillermo Edgardo Vecchio)

At the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship:

Panama men's national basketball team roster roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club PG 4 Joel Muñoz 35 – (1980-06-24)24 June 1980 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Leones de Managua PG 5 Trevor Gaskins 25 – (1989-11-24)24 November 1989 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Estudiantes Bahía Blanca SG 6 J. R. Pinnock 31 – (1983-12-11)11 December 1983 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Huracanes del Atlántico F 7 Jamelle Horne 26 – (1988-11-04)4 November 1988 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Toyama Grouses G/F 8 Jonathan King 25 – (1990-01-25)25 January 1990 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Cojute F/C 9 Jamaal Levy 32 – (1983-01-08)8 January 1983 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Estudiantes Bahía Blanca SF 10 Josimar Ayarza 28 – (1987-05-03)3 May 1987 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Culiacán G/F 11 Michael Hicks (C) 39 – (1976-08-04)4 August 1976 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Hebraica y Macabi SF 12 Ernesto Oglivie 26 – (1989-06-30)30 June 1989 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) San Marcos PF 13 Gyno Pomare 29 – (1986-04-05)5 April 1986 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Aomori Wat's F/C 14 Jose Lloreda 34 – (1980-11-10)10 November 1980 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Atenienses de Manatí F/C 15 Rubén Garcés 41 – (1973-10-17)17 October 1973 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Club Malvin	Head coach Joaquín Ruiz Lorente Assistant coach(es) Mario Butler Luis Julio Legend Club field describes latest professional club Age field is age on August 30, 2015 (C) – Team Captain

Panama Pipeline

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, various Panama players played their college basketball in the United States at NAIA school Briar Cliff College as part of head coach Ray Nacke's "Panama Pipeline". Some of the members included national team members Rolando Frazier, Ernesto "Tito" Malcolm, Mario Butler, Eddie Warren, Reggie Grenald, and Mario Galvez. These players helped Briar Cliff to many NAIA Regional Championships, National Tournament appearances, and in 1981 the Chargers were ranked No. 1 in the nation in the NAIA's final regular season poll.

The new millennium brought another set of very good players from Panama, coming out of the local Superior Basketball Circuit (CBS), the under 21 team, and local players in Division 1 Universities in the United States. Since 2000, Panama has gone to 4 preolympic tournaments, 5 pre-world championships, one world championship (Japan 2006), and one youth basketball olympics (Singapore 2010). The local program is based in neighborhood leagues that collect talent and export it to the United States. This symbiotic action produces the talent for the National Team.

Usually underrated and underestimated, Panama Basketball always manages to qualify to big tournaments and give stunning surprises, such as beating the United States in the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007. Its long basketball tradition dating back to 1904, and its street basketball mentality of fighting hard to the end in basketball games, has made this Central American basketball program a "Classic" in the international scene.

Kit

Manufacturer

2015: Nike^[8]