VICTORIA ’Vicki’ Brick, the former Philippine basketball women’s team (now Gilas Pilipinas Women) shooting guard, passed away on Monday (April 7) following a long battle with ovarian cancer.
She was 43.
A proud product of the University of Maryland program, Brick was with the national team – coached by now PSC commissioner Fritz Gaston - which bagged the bronze during the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Nakhonratchasima in Thailand.
Among her teammates were fellow Fil-Ams Amira Issa and Melissa Jacobs, Fats Tolentino, former UAAP MVP Casey Tioseco, WNCAA counterpart Machico Matsuno, Joan Grajales, Diana Rose Jose, Minerva Narciza, Sylvia Marie Valencia, Aurora Adriano, and team captain Emilia Vega.
Rare podium finish
The Philippines lost to eventual champion Malaysia during the semifinals, 74-56.
The podium finish was the first for the women’s team which was then competing in an international tournament for the first time following the two-year suspension slapped by FIBA on the Philippine federation.
The 5-foot-7 Brick played for the Terrapins from 2000 to 2004 and served as team captain during her senior year when the team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Brick played professional basketball for the Sydney Flames in the WNBL prior to her stint with the national team. He went back to the US to work for the family-owned Brick Bodies Fitness Services, a chain of health clubs in the Baltimore area.
A graduate of Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and communications, she became CEO of the fitness club in 2015.
She is survived by husband Evan Zupancic, daughter Jordan, and parents Victor and Lynne, and brother Jon.
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