Puerto Rican basketball legend, José ‘Piculín’ Ortiz, 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 battle against colorectal cancer.
The news was confirmed by the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation, an entity that highlighted the career of the historic center.
Ortiz, who was hospitalized since May 1 at Ashford Hospital in San Juan, was accompanied in his last days by his wife, Sylvia Ríos, his daughter and other family members.
Considered a benchmark of Puerto Rican basketball, Ortiz left an indelible mark both internationally and professionally.
His participation in four editions of the Olympic Games (Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004) established him as a key player in the Puerto Rico national team for more than a decade.
In the professional field, Ortiz reached the NBA after being selected in the 1987 draft by the Utah Jazz, where he played for two seasons.
His career was also prominent in Europe, especially in the ACB League of Spain, where he defended the colors of clubs such as CAI Zaragoza, Real Madrid Baloncesto, FC Barcelona Baloncesto and Unicaja Málaga.
With FC Barcelona, Ortiz won the Copa del Rey and was runner-up in the European Cup.
In addition, he had an outstanding participation in the Greek league, where he won the Korac Cup with Aris Thessaloniki.
The departure of “Piculín” Ortiz leaves a void in Puerto Rican sports and international basketball, where he will be remembered for his talent, leadership, and legacy.
