Oscar Ramón “Moncho” Loubriel Flores (born September 6, 1970) is a Puerto Rican sports team supporter, property/hidration manager and mascot of Vaqueros de Bayamón and Puerto Rico men's national basketball team.[1]

Born with Down syndrome, the youngest of four brothers, his father began taking him early on the Vaqueros games, by 1983, by then twelve or thirteen years old, he became the mascot of the team. He has traveled with the Puerto Rico men's national basketball team to numerous FIBA competitions and Olympic cycle events.[2]

The 2022 Baloncesto Superior Nacional Season was dedicated to him.[1][3] As part of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, the April 17, 2024 Vaqueros de Bayamón game was dedicated to him, it was the inaugural game of the season.[2][4]

In 2016 a documentary was made about his life "El Alma del Equipo".[5][6][7]

He is a member of Phi Sigma Alpha Fraternity as was awarded in 2012 with their Medalla de Caballero Sigma.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "a temporada 2022 será dedicada a Moncho y Josean, íconos de lo que "Es el BSN"". vaquerosahi.com (in Spanish). Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Garcés, Brandon (April 18, 2024). "Moncho es el capitán de este equipo". Primera Hora (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: GFR Media. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  3. ^ Vega, Giovanny (March 31, 2022). "El anuncio se dio hoy en una actividad privada con jugadores, dirigentes y apoderados de los 12 equipos participantes del torneo". El Vocero (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "LA NOCHE DE MONCHO: CUANDO EL DEPORTE SUMA VALOR FUERA DEL CAMPO DE JUEGO". sindromedownpr.org (in Spanish). Fundación Puertorriqueña Síndrome Down. April 18, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  5. ^ Algarín Martínez, Noel (November 6, 2015). "Documental recoge la inspiradora historia de Moncho, "ícono" de nuestro baloncesto". Primera Hora (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: GFR Media. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "Moncho, el alma del equipo del baloncesto boricua". Univision Noticias (in Spanish). Univision. March 24, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Historia de Moncho queda plasmada en un documental". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: GFR Media. November 6, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Anuario Sigma 2023". Anuario Sigma (in Spanish). Phi Sigma Alpha: 19. October 20, 2023.