Orlando Meléndez

Orlando Meléndez Gilbert, a.k.a. "El Gato" (The Cat) (born 14 February 1979), is a Puerto Rican basketball player. He is the first Puerto Rico-born basketball player to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Early years Meléndez was born in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico,

He always grabbed a snack to eat during his trek and would drop crumbs along the way. As a result, whenever he arrived at the court he would be accompanied by an entourage of cats, thus his nickname "El Gato" (the cat). Melendez tried out for his Juana Díaz high school basketball team and was accepted. Through an exchange student program, he was able to play at McDowell High School in Marion, North Carolina, where he finished his senior year.

Harlem Globetrotters In 2007, Sam Worthen, the former Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Jazz guard, coached professionally in Puerto Rico. He also coached the Washington Generals the perennial Globetrotters punching bag. Worthen, impressed with Meléndez's ability to play and entertain suggested Meléndez try out for the Globetrotters after the two had bumped into each other outside the San Juan apartment building in which they both lived.

Meléndez whose position is that of "power forward", injured his knee during training camp. He had surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus. Meléndez was well enough for the start of the 26 December domestic season.

Awards and achievements Among Meléndez's awards and achievements are the following: NCAA Final Four -2000 ACC Champion Runner-Up -2001 Puerto Rico National Team -2001-2002 Puerto Rican PRSBL All Star Game -2001 Central American Championships (Centrobasket) Champion -2001 Tournament of the Americas (Copa América) in Neuquin (ARG) –2001 (Semifinals) "Gatorade" Dunking contest in the Puerto Rican All Star Game -2002 Puerto Rican BSN Semifinals -2003 Irish Superleague Finalist -2007 Irish Superleague North Conference Runner-Up -2007 Puerto Rican BSN Champion -2007