SAN JUAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) - Puerto Rico celebrated one of its greatest stars of the game of basketball —or of any sport for that matter—, when they retired the number 4 that he wore after two decades with the Puerto Rican National Team. 

In a short but emotional ceremony held before the Mexico and Puerto Rico game that was part of Group C of the World Cup Qualifiers in the Roberto Clemente stadium in San Juan, the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation hung up the number that former center José “Piculín” Ortiz sweated for 21 years with the team.

“My heart wants to jump out of my chest. It has been a while since I have spoken that fast,” said Ortiz to the press after the ceremony. The renowned former national team member offered a short thank you message, one where his former coaches and teammates were in.

“These are things that you don’t expect. When they surprise someone with this kind of recognition it is hard to control any thought or act. I feel very honored and thankful. I have no words to describe the feelings I have,” he added.

 Ortiz debuted with the Puerto Rican quintet in the 1983 Pan American games in Caracas, in what was the start of one of the best careers seen in a Puerto Rican National Team jersey.

The 6’10” center participated in four World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002), and four Olympic Games (1988, 1992, 1996 and 2004). There are also nine participations in the AmeriCup (1984, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003). 

With Ortiz as their main figure, Puerto Rico won seven gold medals at the Centrobasket, gold at the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games in Ponce, the gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games at Havana, and the gold at the 1994 Goodwill Games. In addition, there’s the fourth place at the 1990 World Cup in Argentina and the sixth place in Athens 2004, where Puerto Rico surprised the world with a resounding victory against the United States, who suffered their first Olympic loss with a team comprised by NBA players.

Ortiz was also part of other big victories for the Puerto Rico National Team: like the first against any United States National Team in the 1989 World Cup Qualification and wins against the former Yugoslavia (1990 and 2002), Spain, Greece, Turkey, Russia, among others.

That his retirement ceremony happened at the Clemente stadium makes it more special for Ortiz. At this venue, the former player born in Aibonito, but raised in Cayey, starred in one of the most remembered moments of the building: in a Bronze medal game in the 2003 Olympic Qualifiers he scored 21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and seven blocks in the win against Canada that gave Puerto Rico their ticket to the Olympic Games.

Outside the National Team, Ortiz played for Oregon State in his college years, played in the NBA and in the European leagues with Spain and Greece, and also played for a while in Venezuela. At a local level, in the Superior National League of Puerto Rico, he has eight championships (three with San Germán and five with Santurce) and conquered the scepter of the Puerto Rican League for the Toritos of Cayey in 1995.

This was definitely a spectacular career that deserved to be recognized as it was tonight.

FIBA