IN just less than a month after the passing of Rex Armojallas and James Timonera, another big man in Cagayan de Oro basketball apparently lost his battle against the big C.

Allan ‘Salabam’ Ellarina, the 6-foot-3 former varsity standout of South Western University (SWU) Cobras in Cebu, had just come home from Manila to visit her ailing mother Maximina in Cagayan de Oro, who died a few days later.

“At least now you can rest next to God. I love you so much mother,” then posted the 50-something Ellarina on his Facebook wall.

But early this week, the Ballpals community ― where Ellarina was an old member ― got stunned upon learning the news that he suffered a stroke and was airlifted back to Manila where he can be properly attended to for treatment by some family members.

Then followed another shocking news that Ellarina had stage 4 cancer aggravated by kidney problems that caused him excruciating pain, according to his wife Jhessykha.

On February 20, fellow Ballpal and his neighbor in barangay Carmen, Bongmark Mercado announced through social media that Ellarina ― who resorted to officiating basketball after his retirement from commercial league plays ― has already passed away.

“I will always remember Allantern as a diehard SWU Cobra where he was my teammate from 1986 to 1990. He was always jolly and a loyal friend dili mamiya kon naay trouble,” said retired Philippine Sports Commission employee Dale Prochina.

Some years ago, Ellarina was able to join the reunion basketball gathering of mostly Mindanao-based Cobras in Cagayan de Oro organized by the group’s long-time supporter Jacky Almario and was even attended by their ageless coach Jun Noel and senior star player Hermogenes Anciado.

The MBROAI Basketbol family of Cagayan de Oro referees under the leadership of Danilo Jaminal also enjoins Ellarina’s friends and relatives in mourning the big man’s untimely demise.

In late January, former Philhealth sports figure Julieto ‘Rex’ Armojallas, 53, lost his bout to cancer, as well as the 6-foot-4 James Lara Timonera, 40, who followed suit in the first week of February due to complications.

Timonera had a heart bypass and also underwent dialysis.

One of the dominant centers in the local commercial leagues, Armojallas was best remembered as the undersize rim protector, who at 6-foot-1, became Most Valuable Player in the National Inter-Collegiate Basketball during his heydays with the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) in Bacolod.

While Timonera, whose last employment was with the Metrobank Butuan branch, made his mark as the towering center of the multi-titled junior basketball team Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School (SHJMS) in Cagayan de Oro under coach Edgardo ‘Boy’ Dacoco.

Timonera also played for two years in college with the San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA Season 2004 and 2005.