The basketball world is in mourning, especially in Chile and the Dominican Republic, after learning of the sad loss of Rodrigo Madera. The 34-year-old former player died this week after several years of battling cancer which was diagnosed in 2022. He was part of the Dominican under-17 team that won bronze at the 2007 Centrobasket and was well known on the Chilean territory.
The Chilean National Basketball League (LNB) confirmed Monday the death of the center, multiple champion of the circuit, at the age of 34. Rodrigo Madera, born in the Dominican Republic and settled since 2014 in Chile where his mother is from, died after years of cancer, detected in early 2022. The player was part of the Dominican Centrobasket team under 17 of 2007, in Puerto Rico. He was the son of chemical engineer and basketball writer Luis Rafael Madera.
FOREVER, WARRIOR🏀🙏
From the CDO we join in supporting those close to Rodrigo Andrés Madera Cirio, remembering the LNB 2021 final in which UdeC won its first national league title with the Chilean-Dominican pivot in its ranks🏆🕊️ pic.twitter.com/PwFv4ALPWt
– CANAL CDO (@canal_CDO) November 25, 2024
“After a few months full of tests, and after receiving the results of the biopsy, a malignant sarcoma (tumor) in the right thigh »Madera said on his Instagram at the time, after a successful sports season with the University of Concepción. After undergoing surgery, the tumor was removed. However, as the weeks went by, it unfortunately turned out that he had metastases to the lungs.
Rodrigo Madera continued the chemotherapy treatment, but it had no effect. He had to continue taking pills, which were also discontinued over the months due to dangerous side effects and he suffered episodes of pneumothorax and seizures. The latter gave rise to a new examination in 2023 which made it possible to detect another tumor, this time in the brain. Thus, the basketball player continued his life between examinations and surgical operations, until this sad week. “Today we have to say goodbye to a loved onea tireless teammate and a true warrior of national basketball, who left an indelible mark on each of us,” said the LNB.
🙏🏀🇨🇱 Rest in peace, crack…
The University of ConcepciĂłn has confirmed the death of Dominican-Chilean center Rodrigo Madera Cirio, at the age of 34, after losing the battle against cancer.
Champion with El Campanil and with the national team, Madera Cirio scored… pic.twitter.com/YnCWUXVIAg
– TNT Sports Chile (@TNTSportsCL) November 25, 2024
