Press Conference: Preseason Game Announcement | August 12, 2025

Press Conference: Preseason Game Announcement | August 12, 2025

and founder of Grupo VRDG. Mr. Caval is leading a burgeoning global financial conglomerate that aims to deliver the top live entertainment and sporting events to fans around the world. Please welcome Mr. Julio Cabal Corada. I guess you could stay there if you want. Thank you. Thank you. Can you hear me? Yep. Okay. Uh well, first of all, thank you. Thank you everyone for being here. Uh thanks to the to the Heat organization uh for hosting us in the NBA as well the league. Uh JV, thanks for all your effort along with the Aronson family uh for making this happen along with Ryan who we have over here. So we appreciate obviously Nick I know Glenn on the heat side as well and Ryan for believing in this along with Michael. So we are we are extremely grateful. I think today is a day of gratitude. I think we worked on this event for the last uh it started all like three years ago, but then we a lot of people gave it to the picture. Uh so I’m happy we’re here three years after hard work. Uh, and it’s just about gratitude and how we can uh, as a company in Puerto Rico, how we can elevate Puerto Rico as a gravitational center in the whole Americas to be a fourth coming force of sports, music, and entertainment and partnership with many people. So, I have to thank uh, from Carlos Aoyo, Manuel Dolea, uh, all the media in Puerto Rico who’s who supported this sponsors. uh it takes an up it’s an uphill uh to to get an uphill battle to get all a lot of these things and large global events done. So we can just say that we’re very grateful along with our VRG team who are all here and everyone is always working very hard. So for us is an honor. We’re going to have a blast October 4th in Puerto Rico. Uh official announcement uh Orlando Magic versus Miami Heat. Uh I think we may see a lot of different little events that will be part of it. Uh BRDG stands as well for how can I explain this? Not only that we put these global events but that we also have a positive impact. What do we mean by that? And I think it’s key along with our media partners. I know Fernando Sears and Tundo No and all the different folks who made this happen. We really care about the community. Uh no joke. We we how if we do well, people next to us have to do well as well. So, we’re doing what what’s called a community cleanings clinics uh in the different little communities in Puerto Rico. We’ll host press conferences. We’ll do celebrity engagements. We’ll also try to have certain activities that obviously enhance the profile of basketball youth in the sport. So, I’m not going to bore you more, but thank you so much and we’re going to have a great time, God willing. And thank you for every all the sponsors and everyone who made this happen because it’s it costs very much to to do all this stuff. Thank you. Thank you, Julio. And I think to add a little bit to what you said um uh as as well as the magic and us, we we don’t only play in our community, we’re part of the community. And I think that’s part of what what you’re going to try to do as well and we are doing in Puerto Rico and with this game as well. So So thank you very much. and a uh uh non-paid uh announcement. Anel will be in concert here on September 19th and the next night uh in Orlando at the KIA Center. So, uh I know JB, you’re happy with that promotion there and so is Jared. Um, I’d like to uh thank everybody here, like I said, and unable to be here with us today in person and uh watching or listening via Zoom is the honorable um Willette Roles, Puerto Rico’s government sec uh secretary of tourism and also Mr. Jorge Perez, a general manager of El Kiss Puerto Rico where the game will be played. We welcome them and we wish them well and and thank you once again. And now representing the Miami Heat, I’d like to introduce uh John Beerlin. He is the executive uh vice president and chief commercial officer for the Miami Heat. JV, the microphone is yours. Thank you. Well, thank you for coming. Uh we’re excited. We have a history, a rich history with with Puerto Rico. We’re excited to be back. Uh we have great fans there. We’re excited to continue that journey with our fans and now and for the future. Like to thank Ryan Devos and the Orlando Magic for participating in the NBA for their help and uh like to thank all of you for coming out today. We look forward to seeing you soon. Thanks, JV. Also representing the Miami Heat here today is uh one of my favorite people. He’s not just a former colleague, a former player, somebody I I criticized for missing a shot here or there from time to time, but also celebrated him uh very much. He’s a former NBA champion, threetime NBA All-Star, 1995 NBA three-point champ, 1989 NCAA champion, 15-year veteran, and now Heat legend and ambassador and a good friend. Please welcome Glenn Rice. Thank you. Thank you, Jose. You know, I try not to miss too many shots, Jose. So, um, actually, uh, thank you. Uh, this is actually the closest I’ve been to, uh, Nick uh, since we both were members of the Miami Heat and uh, Orlando Magic and when I scored uh, 56 points against him, but we won’t bring that up. Now, Nick’s a really good friend of mine. is always good to see him and uh I enjoy uh what he uh brings to the game and especially in his ambassador role. Um the players, they’re going to get a a great opportunity to play in front of some phenomenal fans in Puerto Rico and I expect them to uh go out and uh do the best they can. and as an ambassador for the game, uh it’s a great opportunity for me to uh once again speak on the game and do for the game and and get an opportunity to go out and work in the communities and and do what we do best. Uh when you talk about the Miami Heat, and I’m pretty sure Orlando Magic feels the same way. One of the things we try and do is do what we can in the communities, uh not just on the basketball court, but in the communities to make sure we’re doing our part. And you can best believe we’re going to give that 100%. Thank you, Glenn. Thank you very much. Uh again, uh in his 15th year career, uh he scored that 56 uh 56 points against the Magic. And like you said, uh Nick Anderson was on that team. And it was two days after my twin boys were born. Uh they’re now 30, so that was a long time ago. Actually, Nick, you only scored 20 points. You were fourth on your team. Shaq had 38 and uh you only scored 20, but 56. and it’s the second most points ever scored uh in the history uh of the Miami Heat. Uh also representing now the Orlando Magic, as we said before, is Mr. Ryan Dvos, managing director of the Orlando Magic. Uh Mr. Dvos, the microphone is yours. Awesome. Thank you so much. Uh well, first of all, thank you uh Julio and JV for having us and and to the entire Heat organization uh for this opportunity to play and and compete down in an amazing market in Puerto Rico. Uh we are incredibly excited to be down on the island and you know we look at Puerto Rico as a continuation of our market. We’ve got a fantastic Puerto Rican base and in Central Florida that we’re really excited to to bring the game and and be a part of. Uh you know, we’ve been very active down in the Puerto Rican market over the last seven years uh through our partners with Anaheas University as well as the Puerto Rican Tourism Company. uh we you know really value their relationships to be able to bring clinics to the youth down there uh and really just be be able to show off the game uh the NBA game and and ultimately the Orlando Magic to Puerto Rico. Uh so incredibly excited for this opportunity, very appreciative for it. Uh looking forward to it and you know we’ve we’ve been longtime rivals uh for for quite some time which has been fun. And you know I will say Glenn Nick brought it up pretty quickly. He remembers he remembers the 56. Uh but it it’s it’s amazing to be able to to collaborate on on something like this, be competitive on the court, uh but be able to collaborate in this community and and you know, be able to continue growing the game uh in in unison. So great opportunity and and very appreciative to you all for coming out and and being a part of this. Thank you, Mr. Dvos. And finally, uh representing also the Orlando Magic is Nick Anderson, the Magic’s first ever draft pick. interesting because uh that year too, the Heat started in 1988. The Magic started in 1989. And in 1989, their first pick ever was uh Nick Anderson. He was 11th pick in the draft, a 13-year veteran, including his first 10 with the Orlando Magic. Nick Anderson ranks as the Magic’s all-time leader in games played, field goals made, steals, field goals attempted, and three-point field goals attempted. Uh, number two in points behind Dwight Howard, by the way. Um, please welcome Orlando Magic community ambassador for many, many years, Nick Anderson. Nick, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Well, uh, I I would be remiss if I don’t mention uh, you know, me and Glenn has uh, had battles not just in the uh, NBA world, but we go back to college, him being a Michigan Wolverine, me University of Illinois. So, uh, we clashed on, uh, several different occasions and, uh, as much as it hurts me to say this, uh, they beat us on a last second shot at the final four. So, you know, we go back to that. But, uh, moving forward, uh, as an organization and, uh, we’re looking forward to playing in Puerto Rico against uh, as Ryan mentioned, our rivals in the Miami Heat. I think it’s going to be a great game, great opportunity, and uh, for his community. Uh I I told a story to Ryan back in the uh room back there. His grandfather, he always talked about uh being in the community. That’s the thing that we’re going to do first. Basketball is there, but uh taking care of the community is is is very important as the game being played on the court. So, we’re looking forward to the game in Puerto Rico. Uh it’s it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be challenging, but we’re also looking forward to doing things in the community. Uh that I think that’s where it starts too. Thank you very much, Nick. And you know, every time that I travel to uh to the games in in Orlando, you know, you’re always there. You’re always present. You’re always on the court. Um I know that that’s important and that’s how we do it at our our place here as well with Glenn and so many of other uh of our ambassadors. So, thank you. And JV had one uh final um thought here that would like to express. Finally, I’d just like to say thank you to Hulu and the VRDG folks. Uh, has it been three years? Really? We wow. Well, it’s been a long time. Uh, we appreciate it and, uh, he’s the one that brought this to us and has worked with both organizations to make this happen. So, I just wanted to say thank you to you and your group. Uh, and we’re looking forward to working with you. So, thank you. Thanks, J. So, that concludes our event today. Much gracias. Thank you very much. We uh hope to see you on October 4th in San Juan, Puerto Rico for a great game, a great time uh not just on the court but outside the court as well. So on behalf of the Miami Heat and our home here at the Casaya Center, thank you for coming. We have for you uh some pictures as well if we have any questions. We also have that available to Aluna. I can translate if possible and when we’re done here, you can take pictures with our trophies in the back. Um, if that and then go back to the room and we will have a little bit more food and we could have a toast as well. I saw some champagne glasses so we have to use them. Okay, so by the way, by the way, Jose, before we go into questions, remember something important to make this happen. Tickets go on sale in the pre-sale on Thursday uh at ticera.com. It’s the pre-sale Bank of Babul and then the general sale via Detera as well. Friday 10:00 a.m. We need to recoup everything. Great. Okay. Two question. Sure. Two players. Puerto Rico. [Music] Sure. his the first question is to either uh Glenn or or or Nick as well is that now so many international players u who are in the NBA I want to say that over a third of the NBA is now uh international and how does that feeling and how are fans going to uh react or feel to that seeing all these international players that was different than it was maybe the last time there was a game in Puerto Rico. I’ll start with you Glenn and and the influence and the influx of international players in the NBA. Yeah, I that’s a great question. I I I think that goes to show you the growth of the game. Uh when when I was involved in the NBA, we had a smaller group of international players uh and you know, enter into the uh NBA. uh as the NBA spread spread his arms out and you know uh welcome more uh opportunities to to play in the different countries, it allowed uh eyeballs to be uh put on the NBA and then also uh greater access for players who had the ability uh to have an opportunity to play in the NBA. So, and also their talent, man, they they they kept getting better and better and better uh each year. So, it was uh uh they definitely uh got the attention of the NBA and that’s why you see more and more international players playing in the game and uh they’re very competitive and they they make the NBA what it is today. Nick, well, as Glenn mentioned, you you you see that the game has evolved. Uh you know, uh back in the times uh when me and Glenn played and before that, uh American players went overseas to play. Mhm. And now they’re uh they the game has evolved. They’re over here. And the talent that that’s in the game today. And I have to say this, you know, you look at uh Nola Jokic as as a big man at 7 foot uh 7 foot one. The things that he can do, it it just makes this game more special. It it puts more eyes on the game. Uh what those the international players bring to the game. And um you you must say that the American players, hey, you have to step up your game because the international players uh they are evolving. They’re coming and the doors is open. I’d like to add I think like to add the last five NBA MVPs have been international players as well. Get the microphone please. Thank you. Puerto Rico. Ricardo. super excited. They’re going to have the opportunity kids in Puerto Rico to see that in in live in the island. So, we’re very grateful for that. Us as a company and then I think for Puerto Rico as well. Right. Again, the question was, you know, the 19 years since there was a game played in in in Puerto Rico. And again, it takes a lot of hard work to get these these games in the preseason games going. And thank you to Julio and and his group uh to get this going, but how important it is uh for the community as well for kids to to see these games as well. I have followup. Yeah, I have a follow. One for Nick and one for Glenn if they allow if you allow me. Uh Glenn, this is the seventh time the NBA has come to Puerto Rico and the seventh time that the heat plays in Puerto Rico. So, can you explain a little bit about that relationship with the Latin community, especially with the with the Puerto Ricans? Sure. Uh I I think when you talk about uh Miami, I mean, Florida period, you have a lot of uh Hispanics here, uh Latin culture, and uh that connection there is very special. I mean, I’ve been here since ‘ 89 and I I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it grow and it’s a very special relationship and the love not only just from the fans, but it’s recipated. You know, the players, we love the uh the flavor that we’re getting from them and and one of the things uh we cherish is that relationship. So when we have the opportunities to go uh play in front of the fans here or in Puerto Rico, uh we we’re very honored and we try to do our best to uh to make sure everything goes exactly right. JV just wanted to know, you know, a little bit of the process after so many years of of this happening. How did how did that uh uh su how did how did it happen really this this game in Puerto Rico? Yeah, it uh began with some conversations with Julio on re-engaging with Puerto Rico as a market really and and looking at options and opportunities and it just sort of evolved from that and it evolved into actually playing a game. So, we worked closely with the NBA who were a huge help as well as the Orlando Magic. Uh and it just developed into this idea and and we managed to put it together. So, and here we are. Magic Orlando. So the Magic going back to the island. How much are you looking forward to meeting the Magic fans? Because if you come to think about it, you guys even share a Puerto Rican player. Carlos Aoyo played with the Heat. Played with the Magic too and he left quite a impression about both tips. So, can you talk a little bit about how much are you looking forward to meeting Magic fans down in the island? Well, I’m I’m looking forward to it. Uh, as you mentioned, Carlos Aurora, uh, very exciting Puerto Rican player. You know, Flashy, uh, can could do a little bit of everything. He let you know that, uh, he has arrived. That was his his mentality. But, uh, we’re looking forward to it. Uh, meeting those Magic fans down there in Puerto Rico. I’m especially looking forward to it. Uh, I visit Puerto Rico on several different occasions, vacationing, but now in this this setting, I’m looking forward to it. Hey, one more over here. We good on time, Lorenzo? We’re good. Great. Hey guys, uh, Colia and, uh, I’ve seen that this is the the furthest south you’re taking the game, an NBA match. Um, are you guys flirting with the idea to show this kind of a spectacle to all uh further south, maybe South America? Maybe like give them a little taste of of what uh NBA uh matches are. I’m not sure what who who’s I’m sorry is for Julio. For anybody. Okay. Well, actually, I I have to correct you, sir. We we played a couple years ago in in in uh in Brazil. So, uh the heat has been to Brazil. We’ve been to the Dominican Republic. I’m not sure how that is on the hemisphere on the uh on the longitude latitude situation with uh with Puerto Rico. I want to say it’s further south, but I may be wrong. Um a little bit just by by a touch, but um I think that sometimes and I’ll answer this and if you want um u the NBA uh controls a lot of what happens outside of the United States. Uh and sometimes they have their own games. I know that you uh the Magic just um has made a deal where they’re going to play in in Berlin uh for a few games obviously with the Vagner uh having them. So, they’re going there. So, the NBA controls a lot of that for us to be able to to get away from that or to be able to do the game in Puerto Rico. Like I said, was not easy. Uh and like I said, the the NBA uh has their uh international games, whether it’s in Asia or in Europe. Uh but they also go to South America and uh so that would be I guess the furthest south because we went to uh Rio de Haneed uh a few years ago. So I think I answer I’ll jump in a little bit as well. We we played in Brazil a few years ago uh and incredible experience to your to your point. We are playing this January in both uh Berlin and London which we’re incredibly excited about. But ultimately it’s it’s an NBA driven initiative to bring the game elsewhere. you know, there’s there’s 30 markets here in in North America uh that can watch NBA basketball somewhat read regularly and readily. Uh so if we can bring that experience to the fans in their local markets, that’s how you create lifelong fandom. And and that’s ultimately the goal here. And and I want to say I’d like to add one more thing as we finish here is that uh I think that and and Glenn talked about this and Nick as well, the globalization of the NBA game. I guess you really have to credit uh the uh uh David Stern um David Stern and the Olympics in 92 in Barcelona. I think that exploded, that opened the eyes to the world of basketball and uh like Nick said and and Glenn as well, the competition has gotten incredibly I mean the the US barely won last year u in the Olympics against France and you see all the other countries that are just up there top tier and I think that’s a credit to to the late David David Stern and the NBA and the vision of globalizing uh the game. So I’d like to finish with that. David, all games now are international games. There’s no local games anymore because anybody in the world can see any game at any time and that’s a credit. Thank you. Thank you. Gracias Nick Glenn JV uh Thank you very much. Have a great day everybody. Thank you. No problem. No problem.

Join us Tuesday, August 12 for a Press Conference where we’ll be announcing some new information about a preseason game vs. the Orlando Magic.

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