FORMER Letran big Jimly Lantaya passed away on Saturday due to heart complications.
He was 24.
Lantaya was diagnosed with thoracic aortic aneurysm and went under the knife earlier this year at the Philippine Heart Center.
READ: NCAA Champion Jimly Lantaya still in ICU after heart surgery
Since then, he has stayed in his home in General Santos City where he eventually lost the gallant fight for his life.
Lantaya was a 6-foot-9 center who was a frontcourt player for Bonnie Tan's dynastic run with the Knights, with whom he won two titles in NCAA Seasons 97 and 98.
He also played under coach Goldwin Monteverde with NU-Nazareth School when the Bullpups completed a perfect 16-0 campaign in UAAP Season 82.
Lantaya last played for the Cotabato Warriors in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and was included in the GenSan Warriors roster in the Pilipinas Super League.
Tributes also poured his way, notably from former teammate Fran Yu who wrote, "RIP #15 isa sa pinaka masayang tao na nakilala ko paalam mossing vic! Paalam champ!"
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