Canadian basketball star from Sudbury loses battle with cancer

SUDBURY -- Some sad news from the Sudbury sports community as a former local basketball star has passed away.

Eli Pasquale played for Lockerby in the 1970's then went on to stardom at the University of Victoria, winning five straight Canadian University Championships, and also played for Team Canada at two Olympics.

Pasquale was drafted by the NBA Seattle Supersonics in 1984.

Both his sons, Isaiah and Manny, were star players at Laurentian University in recent years.

Eli Pasquale passed away Monday in Victoria after a battle with cancer at 59 years old.

"Yes, sad day. Heaven received a great point guard, but more importantly an even better person," said Laurentian University Men's Basketball Coach Shawn Swords.

Dwight Walton, the current assistant basketball coach at Montreal's Concordia University in a tweet:

Canada has lost one of its greatest athletes. A WINNER and a CLASS ACT in every sense of the word. I was PROUD to call him a TEAMMATE and more importantly, a FRIEND. Eli Pasquale has passed away. My sincerest condolences to his Family and Friends. May he Rest in Peace. ����❤������

— Dwight Walton ���� (@Bballinsider) November 5, 2019

Sad news as one of the greatest ���� basketball players of all time has passed away. Eli Pasquale was a Canadian icon. 5 consecutive national championships at the University of Victoria as well. May he Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/6usvdGBiuQ

— Peter Yannopoulos (@PeteYannopoulos) November 5, 2019

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  Eli Pasquale, Canadian basketball star