Piculín Ortiz, Basketball Legend, Dies at 62

Ortiz, who played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, represented Puerto Rico in four Olympic Games from 1988 to 2004. He also had a career in the NBA, becoming one of the most respected international players of his generation. afnews.co.za

The 62-year-old athlete, whose full name was José Rafael Ortiz, passed away early Tuesday at 04.03 GMT after a long struggle with colorectal cancer, according to sports sources. His death marks the end of an era for basketball in Puerto Rico and internationally.