The rising star of Puerto Rican male volleyball, Gabriel García Fernández ‘Gabi’, has officially obtained US sports citizenship.
The most talented Puerto Rican male player at the moment, Gabi, projected to be the pillar of the national team of his native country in the coming years, informed on his social media that he changed his sports citizenship to the United States. A 23-year-old opposite hitter, who plays in the Italian SuperLega with Cucine Lube Civitanova, attached a press release from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) in his post. As the main reason for deciding to renounce Puerto Rico National Team, Gabi stressed the lack of proper conditions the country provides to professional volleyball players.
It’s not the first time that a Puerto Rican player chooses to represent the United States in volleyball. The setter Javier Gaspar did it in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The difference between him and Gabi, however, is that the latter has been part of the Puerto Rican national team program. According to the FIVB regulations, Gabi, the NCAA Most Valuable Player in 2020, will have to wait 2 years before wearing the stars and stripes jersey in an official event. The Puerto Rican federation (FPV) indicated that it won’t appeal the decision of the FIVB even though it initially stated it won’t allow this to happen.
