José María Martín Urbano, former coach of Caja de Ronda -currently Unicaja- in the 1970s and a historical figure in Malaga basketball, died this Wednesday after suffering a heart attack while witnessing the match of the second day of the Champions League that he faces Unicaja and JDA Dijon in Martín Carpena, Diario Sur advanced, medium in which he collaborated.
Martín Urbano, who suffered from angina pectoris two weeks ago, felt unwell in the first quarter of the match and the medical services of the facility and Unicaja tried to revive him outside the stands for several minutes, but finally he died, as explained Unicaja later in a statement.
The coach from Malaga was 71 years old and was one of the founders of the old Caja de Ronda, along with another of the historic provincial basketball players, Alfonso Queipo de Llano, and Francisco Moreno Portales, who are now deceased.
“Terrible news. José María Martín Urbano left us when he was here, in his Carpena, seeing his beloved Unicaja, of which he forms a large part of his history. Our big hug to all of Malaga’s basketball, family and friends. RIP, Jose Mari “Unicaja wrote through its social networks.
He was a fundamental figure in the development of basketball in Malaga and in the creation of Caja de Ronda
He also highlighted in a statement published on his official website that Malaga basketball “is in mourning” after losing someone he defines as “a fundamental figure in the development of basketball in our city and in the creation of Caja de Ronda”, the seed of the current Unibox.
Martín Urbano directed Caja de Ronda in the First Division and ACB, as well as director of the youth academy for several years. The coach was coach of Caja de Ronda in several cycles (1979/80, 1982/83-1985/86 and 1987/88-1991-92).
