José ‘Piculín’ Ortiz, Puerto Rican Basketball Legend, Passes Away
San Juan – The basketball world mourns the loss of one of its most emblematic figures. José ‘Piculín’ Ortiz, former Puerto Rican player, passed away this Tuesday at the age of 62 after a brave battle against colorectal cancer.
The news was confirmed by the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation. Ortiz, admitted to Ashford Hospital in San Juan since May 1st, was accompanied in his final days by his wife, Sylvia Ríos, his daughter, and other family members.
‘Piculín’, as he was affectionately known, is considered one of the great references of Puerto Rican basketball, leaving an indelible mark both nationally and internationally.
His participation in four editions of the Olympic Games (Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004) consolidated him as a fundamental part of the Puerto Rican national team for more than a decade.
His impact transcended borders, reaching the NBA after being selected 15th in the 1987 draft by the Utah Jazz, a team with which he played for two seasons.
His professional career also shone in Europe, especially in the ACB League of Spain, where he defended the colors of teams like CAI Zaragoza, Real Madrid Baloncesto, FC Barcelona Baloncesto and Unicaja Málaga. With the azulgrana team, he won the Copa del Rey and was runner-up in the European Cup.
Furthermore, Ortiz left his mark on the Greek league, where he achieved another significant accomplishment by winning the Korac Cup with Aris Thessaloniki.
The departure of “Piculín” Ortiz leaves an immense void in Puerto Rican sports and in international basketball, where he will be remembered for his talent, leadership, and the legacy he built on and off the court.
