Ely Capacio pumanaw na

SUMAKABILANG-BUHAY na ang vice-chairman ng PBA Board of Governors na si Eliezer “Ely” Capacio sa edad na 58.

Pumanaw si Capacio sa Asian Hospital sa Muntinlupa pasado hatinggabi kahapon pagkatapos ng anim na oras na operasyon dulot ng kanyang stroke.

Iniwan ni Capacio ang kanyang pamilya sa pangunguna ng kanyang kapatid na si Glenn na assistant coach ng Globalport Batang Pier.

“Ely, you will be missed. Your PBA family condoles with your wife Vicky and your children on your passing. You have touched and enriched our lives as a great basketball player, coach, corporate executive and former chairman of the PBA Board of Governors. Join our Creator in peace. Farewell, our dear friend,” ayon kay PBA Commissioner Chito Salud.

“Friend, mentor, pioneer of the league, PF champion coach. Eli Capacio. What a tragic loss. We will miss him. Prayers for him and his family,” pahayag ni San Mig Super Coffee head coach Tim Cone sa kanyang Twitter account.

“We called him ‘Father.’ RIP Ely Capacio. Player, coach, board rep, father, brother, friend. The consummate pro,” dagdag ni Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes.

Si Capacio ay dating manlalaro sa Tanduay sa PBA mula 1978 hanggang 1986 at pagkatapos ay naging coach ng Rhum Masters at Purefoods.

Ginabayan niya ang Hotdogs sa korona ng PBA Philippine Cup noong 1991.

Pagkatapos ay umakyat siya sa PBA board bilang governor ng Purefoods at San Miguel Beer.

Naging tserman siya ng lupon noong 2005 at vice-chairman noong isang taon.

(James Ty III)