Danilo Gallinari, the 37-year-old Italian basketball player, received a warm welcome upon his return to Bayamón, where he was greeted with a standing ovation by thousands of fans at the Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez. The occasion was the third game of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) Conference A final between the Vaqueros de Bayamón and the Criollos de Caguas.
The Rancho was and always will be my home.
Gallinari, who had been waiting for months to return to the Coliseo, was presented by announcer Arnaldo 'El Látigo' Guzmán and received chants of 'MVP, MVP, MVP' from the crowd. He expressed his gratitude and emotion, stating that 'The Rancho was and always will be my home.' Gallinari, who had previously played for the Vaqueros and helped them win their 17th championship, was honored with a commemorative plaque by the team’s owners, Eric Duars and Carlos Arroyo.
Although he is currently retired, Gallinari hinted that he might consider coming out of retirement, and plans to return to Puerto Rico for another game if the Vaqueros advance to the championship series.