Puerto Rican basketball bids farewell to José Piculín Ortiz, who passed away at age 62 after a long battle with cancer. A Hall of Famer, his 25-year career took him from the NCAA to the NBA, through the Spanish ACB and the BSN. His legacy transcends generations.
The technological leap in training young talent 🏀
In Piculín's era, scouts traveled with VHS tapes and long-distance calls. Today, platforms like Hudl or Synergy Sports allow analyzing every move of a player in real time. Teams use AI to predict performance and wearables to monitor fatigue. Ortiz, without these resources, built his career on talent and hours on the court. Technology has democratized access to scouting, but it still cannot replace the vision of a player who saw the hoop as an ally.
Cancer doesn't understand NBA records 💪
Piculín faced cancer with the same grit with which he sank three-pointers in the BSN. But the final opponent doesn't miss even free throws. While doctors now use gene therapies and algorithms to predict metastasis, he fought with chemotherapy and willpower. At least we know that, wherever he is, he has already asked the gym manager to turn up the heat. The cold is not good for veterans.