Valerio 'Botchok' Delos Santos, one of the pioneer players when the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) opened in 1975, died Sunday after suffering from a heart attack. He was 61. His remains lie at Bangkulasi in Navotas City.
The 6-foot-1 guard was among the first players who suited up for Yco-Tanduay during the inaugural season of Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league, with prominent stalwarts Abet Gutierrez, Rene Canent, Joy Cleofas and Marte Samson among his early teammates, and later joined by Mike Bilbao and former Senator Freddie Webb.
He played for six straight seasons (1975-80), and made a brief comeback in 1982. Other than Tanduay, he also suited up for San Miguel, Great Taste and Gilbey's Gin, according to the PBA Annual.
Interment will be held on November 28 in San Jose, Navotas. – JVP, GMANews.TV
