BRAZIL (AP) – Pumanaw si dating Boston Celtics center at Syracuse star Fab Melo sa kanyang tahanan sa Brazil nitong Sabado (Linggo sa Manila).
Napili ng Celtics si Melo, ang Big East Defensive Player of the Year, bilang 22nd overall pick noong 2012 NBA Draft.
“He was a really good kid, and it’s not fair that he will be defined by one thing: a 10-page paper,” sambit ni Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.
PBA 4-point shot, ekis kay 7x NBA Champion Robert Horry
Noong 2011-12 season, nasuspinde si Melo ng eskwelahan dulot ng problema sa academics.
Nagpahatid din ng pakikiramay si Celtics president for basketball operations Danny Ainge sa kanyang Twitter account.
“I’m so saddened to hear of the passing of Fab Melo. He was a good kid with a big heart. Our prayers go out to all of his loved ones.”
Hindi masyadong nagamit si Melo sa Celtics, kung saan nakasabak lamang siya sa anim na laro bago inilagay sa NBA D-League Maine Red Claws. Kalaunan, na-trade siya sa Memphis Grizzlies at Dallas Mavericks na kapwa nag-waived sa kanya.
Nagbalik sa Brazil noong 2014 ang 7-foot center at naglaro sa UniCEUB at Brasilia.
