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Filipino player dies during basketball game in Dubai

Dubai - Deloro was planning to go to his hometown in the Philippines for a vacation in November.

A talented basketball player's life came to an untimely end in the middle of an intense winter season basketball game in Dubai.
Christopher Deloro, 38, a member of the Ajman basketball team from a leading fuel marketing company, died on Thursday evening when his team was playing the opening game of the Winter League Basketball Tournament in Sonapur. He fell unconscious in the middle of the game and died within seconds.
Philippines Consul Ferdinand Flores confirmed that he signed the death certificate of the man, and oversaw the cancellation of his passport and NOC for the immediate repatriation of the body. Deloro's father, who is also working in Dubai, processed the paperwork.
The winter basketball tournament, which started simultaneously at the Al Qouz and Sonapur labour accommodations, has been suspended temporarily after the tragic news. It will resume on October 24.
"The tournament had started on Thursday after an inaugural function. The game was progressing well, but one of the players collapsed and fell unconscious. He was taking rest and another player replaced him during the third quarter of the game. He fell head-first on to the ground when he was resting," said an eyewitness.
Prima facie, Deloro died of a heart attack.
A member of the basketball team said: "I did not see what was happening because I was playing. One of my teammates shouted and called my name. Deloro had scored one point. It's so sad that he is not with us any more to score again."
The game was stopped immediately and an ambulance was called. "Paramedics tried to revive Christopher, but he was not responding. When all efforts to resuscitate him failed, they called a second ambulance and rushed him to Al Rashid Hospital in Dubai. The doctors there pronounced him dead on arrival," said a friend of the deceased.
Vacation plans
Deloro, who is married with a son, was planning to go to his hometown in the Philippines for a vacation on November 8. He had booked his air tickets, too.
He used to work at a fuel station in Ajman. His father, brother and sister too work in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
"Never say die, the basketball game will continue and we are trying to help the deceased by donating some money from our next salary. Donation boxes are placed at all staff accommodations," said a friend of Deloro's.
(With inputs from Angel Tesorero)
reporters@khaleejtimes.com