Former Purefoods coach Ely Capacio passes away

MANILA, Philippines – The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers will be more motivated to win their sixth All-Filipino championship and dedicate it to former coach and team executive Ely Capacio, who passed away early Sunday morning.

Capacio’s untimely death came on the eve of the Mixers’ attempt to wrap up the championship at the expense of Rain or Shine in Game Five of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

He was 58.

He is the alternate governor of San Miguel Beer to the PBA Board and also the league’s Vice Chairman at the time of his death. He was the league's chairman in 2005. 

“Ely, you will be missed. Your PBA family condoles with your wife Vicky and your children on your passing,” PBA Commissioner Chito Salud said in a statement.

“You have touched and enriched our lives as a great basketball player, coach, corporate executive and former chairman of the PBA Board of Governors. Join our Creator in peace. Farewell, our dear friend,” the statement read.

Capacio played for eight seasons with Tanduay in the PBA. In 1991, he succeeded Baby Dalupan as Purefoods coach and steered the franchise to its first ever All-Filipino crown in 1991 via 3-2 series victory over corporate rival Sarsi, who was then coached by Yeng Guiao.

In that 1991 team, Capacio handled a young Alvin Patrimonio, who is now the Mixers’ current team manager, Dindo Pumaren, Jerry Codinera and his younger brother and current GlobalPort assistant coach Glen Capacio.