PANJIM: Goa Basketball Association mourned the demise of Orlando Mascarenhas, a former basketball player and sportsperson who succumbed to Covid-19 on Wednesday.
Orlando had been the treasurer of GBA, and served the basketball fraternity in Goa, as a National player, coach, official and office bearer of the State association.
Orlando’s basketball passion began at a young age, representing the Goa state for several years as a youth, junior and senior player.
When Goa University did not field its team in 1982, Orlando was one among only three Goan players who were selected to play for the Bombay University basketball team. He played for the then prominent Basketball Teams: Dempo Sports Club, Salgaoncar Sports Club, MRF and Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim. At other local tournaments, Orlando played for a team named ‘Professional’ getting together other talented players who could not be part of the regular basketball teams.
In 1991, he was elected GBA treasurer for full term contributing back to the game.
Orlando had been involved in grassroots training at Don Bosco Oratory and various other schools and sports centres. He was known to be the silent contributor and judicious official, ever willing to assist in the conduct of any basketball tournament, especially among the grassroots. “He was a fine player, thorough disciplinarian and a good gentleman. He was polite and always ready to help and promote basketball” recalled Agnelo Dias, former state Basketball Player.
“When the basketball scene in Goa was down, near dormant and hit with feuds and factionalism, he was one of the few active members who kept the game alive and going and was a prominent member during the “revival movement” said Sandeep Heble (GBA Executive Committee Member).
Unfortunately, a few days ago, his brother, Oscar Mascarenhas, also a prominent basketball player succumbed to Covid19 shocking many from the basketball fraternity who’ve known them closely.