Atléticos retire Piculín’s jersey, defeat Santeros.

The Atléticos of San Germán on Wednesday night retired the number 4 jersey worn by the late José Rafael “Piculín” Ortiz Rijos, whose storied professional basketball career began with the team.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Atléticos of San Germán retired the number 4 jersey -- worn by the late José Rafael “Piculín” Ortiz Rijos, who died of cancer on Tuesday at age 62 -- during Wednesday night’s Superior National Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) game between the Atléticos and the Santeros of Aguada at Arquelio Torres Coliseum in San Germán.

The Atléticos defeated the Santeros, 81-76, led by Montrezl Harrell, who recorded a double-double with 17 points, 15 rebounds and two assists.

Elsewhere in the BSN on Wednesday, the Gigantes of Carolina-Canóvanas and the Indios Mayagüez also notched victories.

At Juan ‘Pachín’ Vicéns Auditorium in Ponce, the Gigantes defeated the Leones, 90-85.

After the Gigantes took a 51-45 lead into the intermission, a putback dunk by Hunter Tyson with 6:45 left in the third quarter extended the advantage to its widest margin of the game, 61-45. The Leones continued to battle, however, cutting into the deficit at various points in the second half -- the third quarter concluded at 73-64 in favor of Carolina-Canóvanas -- but ultimately failed to complete the comeback. 

The Gigantes’ offense was spearheaded by Jaylen Nowell’s 29 points. Tyson added 18 points, while Scottie James contributed 12.

Darius Bazley led the Leones with 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Jezreel de Jesús also made an offensive contribution with 19 points, while Jalen Crutcher added 16 points.

At the Palacio de Recreación y Deportes in Mayagüez, meanwhile, the Indios thumped the Piratas of Quebradillas, 113-83.

Nephtalí Álvarez led the Indios with 19 points, while Nathan Sobey had 17 points and seven assists, Jared Ruíz scored 16 points, including a team-leading four 3-pointers, and Tyrell Harrison contributed 13 points.

Jameer Nelson Jr., Thomas Robinson and Phillip Wheeler scored 16, 15 and 12 points, respectively, for Quebradillas.