José "El Galgo" Sosa, former National Team and National Superior Basketball player, was honored on May 20 prior to the Mets' game against the Bayamón Vaqueros at the Mario "Quijote" Morales Coliseum and retired the number 9, making him a legend of the Guaynabo Mets.

Sosa, at 65 years of age, is dedicated to giving basketball clinics in the Amelia sector of Guaynabo.

The mayor, Edward O'Neill Rosa participated in the event and expressed "Since I was very young I was a fan of El Galdo and his performance on the court. He is a sports star who now, at this stage, helps young people and is a reference of a good sportsman who deserves to be emulated by the new generations. This tribute is more than deserved".

This icon of Guaynabo basketball was part of the golden era of the Guaynabo Mets in the '80s. Along with Mario "Quijote" Morales and Federico "Fico" López, he won championships in 1980 and 1982 under the direction of Julio Toro. He also had three runner-up finishes with the Mets in 1981, 1983 and 1985.

Sosa then played a season and a half with the Piratas de Quebradillas and another four seasons with the Vaqueros de Bayamón, winning the 1988 title. He closed his career wearing the uniforms of Guayama, Isabela and Aguada.

Sosa, who stood out for his speed and long distance shooting, will have his number 9 retired and will accompany Morales's 15 and López's 5 in the heights of the facility.

"I played 10 years with them and also on the National Team. Aside from the Sports Hall of Fame (in Guaynabo) that I was exalted in November, having the shirt (retired) means that I will always be up there next to Mario and Fico. We are Guaynabo", he stated.

Sosa had his best season in 1985 with the Mets, when he averaged 28 points in 33 regular season games. He had a three-point shooting percentage of 53% (77 three-pointers in 145 attempts). He totaled his career with 9,113 units.

Sosa, Fico López and Qujiote Morales formed a lethal trio in the Mets' offense, under the direction of Toro, considered one of the best coaches in Puerto Rico's history.

Since last August, Sosa, 65, has been in charge of Amelia's basketball program at the Rafael Rexach court in Guaynabo, supervised by Rafael "Chino" Torres, current assistant coach of the Quebradillas Pirates.

"What basketball gave me, I am giving back to the youth."Thus said José "el Galgo" Sosa

Sosa concluded by saying that living the moment of the retirement of his number 9 with his family, in a game against Bayamón and the Quijote Morales, where I won a championship with them in 1988.

I will be proud of it. After the shirt, there is nothing else. I will continue to teach the boys how to play basketball," he said.

Sosa added that "I would like to be remembered as a fighter, a fighter. I worked hard in practice. I would come in first and leave last. Always playing for the team. Proud to play with Guaynabo".