Piculín ORTIZ (Puerto Rico)

His success both at the international and national level, makes it only a matter of time before Puerto Rican center Jose "Piculin" Ortiz enters the FIBA Hall of Fame; recently inaugurated in the Spanish city of Alcobendas, Madrid.

Four years later, after his debut in the Puerto Rico Superior League with the Atleticos de San German (1981), he decided to play at Oregon State University, member of the PAC-10 conference. Two years later, in 1987, he was selected as the Conference's MVP, in front of players like Reggie Miller from the UCLA Bruins. As a result, he was selected by the Utah Jazz as the 16th pick in that year's NBA Draft.

This player, born on October 23, 1963, in the Puerto Rican city of Aibonito, began his career in the courts of the famous European basketball; playing initially for the Cai-Zaragoza in the ACB in Spain; followed by the Real Madrid; and finally with the Barcelona, where he was brilliant indeed, leading his team to the consecution of the Korac Cup.

His Spanish tour ended with participations at the Andorra, Unicaja of Malaga, and finally, the Ourense; when he was 35 years old.

After that he played in the Greece's First Division with the Larisa; later with the Iraklo in the city of Creta; then with the Aris Salonica; concluding with the Paok.

In all those trips throughout the Old World, Piculin figured as a great scorer, for what he took advantage of an unusual agility for a player over the 6'11". Later in his career, he also solidified his rebounding and passing abilities.

Playing for Puerto Rico's National Team, he won gold, silver and bronze medals in regional tournaments (Centro American and Caribbean Games, Pan-American Games and Pre-Olympics); while his best performances came in the World Championships celebrated in Argentina in1990, in which Puerto Rico finished in fourth place; and in Olympic Games (Seoul, 1988; Atlanta, 1996), during the peak of his career.

After deciding not to go back to Europe, Ortiz played as an imported players in Venezuela, with the Guaquiries de Margarita; a team coached by his country-fellow Julio Toro, with who he won various championships during the center's stay with the Cangrejeros of Santurce.

In 2004, at forty, he ensured his place within the annals of basketball after leading Puerto Rico to an unexpected victory over the United States, with players like Carlos Arroyo (Orlando Magic), Larry Ayuso and center Daniel Santiago (both with experience in the NBA and Europe).

A year before, during the Pre-Olympic in San Juan (2003), his 21 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and 7 blocked shots destroyed Canada's dreams (and those of its captain Steve Nash) of going to Greece.
 
During his career in the Puerto Rican basketball, he averaged 18.8 points, 11 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and a strong 60% field goal percentage.

Considered the best Puerto Rican basketball player of all times, "Piculín" is considering retirement, well aware of his status, both as a living legend and one of the best ambassadors for FIBA around the world.