Giusti, Williams To Continue Brotherhood in Colombia
9/28/2016 3:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — After stellar collegiate careers, two of California Baptist University's graduates are heading to Colombia to play professionally.
Jordan Giusti and Trevone Williams weren't ready to hang up their basketball shoes just yet after the Lancers' postseason run ended prematurely last March. They get a chance to not only play professionally, but together again.
The two Lancers have signed with Cimarrones in the Colombian state of Choco and leave next week on October 4th to start training. The Colombian Professional League — which was founded in 1988 — begins games on Friday, October 21.
"Playing professionally has always been my dream, ever since I was a kid," said Giusti. "When Coach [Hardy] Asprilla told me the news that I was wanted in Colombia, I was stoked. When I heard Tre was coming, I was juiced because he has been my guy since day one at CBU and to be able to take this brotherhood into a different culture is very special. Now we intend on going over there and bringing a championship to Choco!"
"It's a dream come true, I'm extremely grateful and blessed to have this opportunity to do something I love for a living," added Williams. "Having the title of 'Professional Athlete' is something that I have worked for all of my life. I want to thank God for all He has done for me. I know my dad is smiling down on me with the most joy because he is the person who taught me everything and helped me develop my game and work ethic."
As the first professional team in Choco, Cimarrones has the best home-court advantage in the league and draws around 3,000 fans each game. Cimarrones was founded in 2012 and only took two years to win its first championship – guided by the league's MVP Randy Hunter, another Division II standout from Humboldt State and former Rick Croy player at Citrus College. Former Lancer Anthony Cosentino also played for Cimarrones after his collegiate career finished at CBU in 2014.
The Cimarrones owner and founder, Edgar Moreno, is a former Texas Longhorns point guard and former teammate with current CBU assistant coach Hardy Asprilla – the two played on many national teams together and won two Colombian professional titles together. Moreno also holds the most championships – six – of any player in the history of the league, as well as one from the Venezuelan league.
Cimarrones won the Colombian Professional League Championship in 2014.
Coming from a winning team, Giusti and Williams know what it takes to win a championship and will look to bring their talents to Cimarrones. Giusti transferred in as a junior and was a key play-maker for CBU, helping lead the Lancers to a first-place conference finish and PacWest Tournament Championship this last year. Williams has been with Giusti the entire time, also transferring to CBU as a junior. The duo has helped the Lancers make back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances, including a Sweet 16 finish in 2014-15.
"I want to thank all of the CBU coaching staff for allowing me be a part of the family and forming a bond that will never be broken," said Williams. "Playing with Jordan is a huge plus with going to play in Colombia. I can honestly say that he is my brother on and off the court and there is not another person that I'd love to go play with more than him."
The Lancers are excited about the opportunity to not only represent CBU in Colombia, but use the experience to represent God as well.
"If I am able to go there and use my platform as a professional athlete to make God known, I will accomplish what is most important," said Giusti. "I am going there as God's servant with the label of professional basketball player. I hope that they can see that when I play I am not doing it for myself but for Him."
Cimarrones average 3,000 passionate fans each contest.
As the first professional team in Choco, Cimarrones has the best home-court advantage in the league and draws around 3,000 fans each game. Cimarrones was founded in 2012 and only took two years to win its first championship – guided by the league's MVP Randy Hunter, another Division II standout from Humboldt State and former Rick Croy player at Citrus College. Former Lancer Anthony Cosentino also played for Cimarrones after his collegiate career finished at CBU in 2014.
