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Eli Pasquale

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Eli Pasquale
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1983 Edmonton National team
Bronze medal – third place 1985 Kobe National team

Ilario Enrico "Eli" Pasquale (August 24, 1960 – November 4, 2019) was a Canadian basketball player and two-time Olympian[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Considered one of the best basketball players in Canada's history[1][5][8], Pasquale was the starting point guard and co-captain of the Canada men's national basketball team during, arguably, Canada's greatest era of basketball.[2][6][7] During this time, Pasquale competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, two World Student Games, four FIBA World Championships and two Pan American games.[2][7][3]

In 1984, Pasquale was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics as the 106th overall pick.[1][2][3][9][4][10] Pasquale later played professionally in Argentina, West Germany and Switzerland.[10][5][6][7]

During university, Pasquale led the University of Victoria to 5 straight national championships.[1][2][3][9] Pasquale was the university's all-time leading scorer when he graduated.[1][4][10][5][7] In 1984, he was awarded the Mike Moser Trophy as the male Canadian university player of the year.[2][9][7] Pasquale was a three-time First-Team All-Canadian[2][9][4][10][7] and two-time CIAU national tournament MVP.[2][9][7]

International Career

Pasquale was a member of the Canadian men's national basketball team for over 15 years[1][3][9][4][10][5] Pasquale was the starting point guard and co-captain of this Canadian team in what was arguably Canada's greatest era of basketball.[2][6][7]

Pasquale represented Canada in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.[1][2][3] The 1984 Olympics were notable because Canada finished 4th overall, narrowly missing a medal.[1][2][3][8] In 1986, Canada finished respectablly in 6th.[2][3][4][5][7]

This 1984 bronze-medal game constituted the only time in 80+ years where Canada had a legitimate chance of winning an Olympic medal in basketball.[8] In this bronze medal game was highly competitive, being tied 18 times with 12 lead changes, with Canada being within one point with less than a minute of play remaining.[8] Pasquale played well in this crucial game in Canadian basketball history, leading Canada in points (16) and assists (5), while also obtaining 6 rebounds.[8]

Pasquale represented Canada in the 1983 and 1985 World Student Games.[2][3][9][7] In the 1983 World Student Games hosted in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada won the gold medal.[2][3][9][10][6][7] This constituted one of the finest moments in Canadian basketball history, being the only time in which Canada has won the gold medal in an international basketball tournament.[11] In the semifinals of this tournament, Canada defeated a talented US team led by future NBA legends Charles Barkley and Karl Malone.[2][3][9][10][6][7] In the 1985 World Student Games, Canada won the bronze medal.[3][7]

Pasquale competed for Canada in four FIBA World Championships,[3][5] where in 1982 Canada placed 4th.[1][10] Pasquale also competed for Canada in two Pan American games where in 1983, Canada finished fourth and in 1987, Canada finished 5th.[7][2][4][5][6]

After a 5-year absence, in 1997 Pasquale represented Canada in the Tournament of the Americas that qualified Canada for the 1998 FIBA World Championship.[10][1][9][5][6][7]

Professional Career

In 1984, Pasquale was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 5th round as the 106th overall pick.[1][2][3][9][4][10][5][6][7] He played three exhibition games with the team before being released.[4][10][7] The following year Eli nearly made the Chicago Bulls, who were looking for someone to play in the backcourt beside Michael Jordan.[7] Eli had impressed the Bulls, but ultimately, they went with American John Paxson.[7] Eli was their final cut.[7]

Pasquale played in the Amateur Athletic Union for Seattle and the Los Angeles summer pro league.[10][7] He played professionally in Argentina (in 1986), in West Germany (in 1989) and in Switzerland (in 1990).[5][7][6][10]

University

Legendary coach Ken Shields described Pasquale as "the face of UVic basketball".[3] Pasquale played for UVic for 5 years, leading the team to 5-straight national championships.[1][2][3][9][4][7] Pasquale is believed to be the first athlete in all of Canadian university sports history to win five consequtive national championships.[2][7] He is only one of five athletes to win five national titles in Canadian university sports.[9][5][7] Pasquale and his UVic team were five-time Canada West champions as well, going 75-5 against Canada West teams in regular season play during his time at UVic.[3] He was a five-time Canada West First-Team All-star.

Pasquale was the all-time leading scorer at UVic when he graduated.[1][4][10][5][7] In 1984, he was awarded the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy as CIAU's outstanding men's basketball player.[2][9][7] Pasquale was a three-time First-team All Canadian [2][9][4][10][7] and two-time CIAU national tournament MVP.[2][9][7] In 1982, he was named the BC University Athlete of the Year[9][7]. Twice, he was named UVic's top male athlete.[7]

Post Career

Pasquale was inducted into the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.[1] In 2021, he was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame.[2] He was inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame in its 2020-21 induction class.[3] In 2005, he was inducted into the University of Victoria Athletic Hall of Fame.[9] Similarly, in 2006 his jersey number, 13, was retired by the university, being only one of three athletes thus honored by the university.[9][4][2][7] In 2014 he was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame and in 2008 he was inducted into the Sudbury Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.[10]

In retirement, Eli focused his time on his young family and his immensely popular basketball camps.[7] Beginning in 1985 and right up to his passing in 2019, he ran youth development camps all over BC, particularly in Victoria.[7][2][10][6] Thousands of BC kids got their start in basketball through Eli’s camps.[7][2][10][6]

Personal Life / Illness / Death

Pasquale was born on August 24, 1960 in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.[1][2][10][5][7] He grew up in Gatchell, Ontario, a predominantly Italian neighbourhood of Sudbury.[10] He played his first organized basketball in Grade 8 on his school team, St. Francis School.[10] By grade 10, Pasquale's height was a mere 5 feet, 3 inches.[10]

On November 4, 2019, Pasquale sadly passed away from aggressive esophageal cancer.[3][5][6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Eli Pasquale — Athlete Induction Class of 2003" (PDF). Canada Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Eli Pasquale". BC Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Eli Pasquale (MBB | Student-athlete)". Canada West Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Hall of Fame Inductees". Basketball BC Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "CANADIAN BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE ELI PASQUALE PASSES AWAY AT 59". Canada Basketball. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Chidley-Hill, John (6 November 2019). "Eli Pasquale, Olympian and Canadian Basketball Hall of Famer, dies at 59". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Beck, Jason. "Eli Pasquale: An Unbreakable Will – 2021 Inductee Spotlight". BC Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Reflecting on when Karl Tilleman, Eli Pasquale, and Their Fellow Canadian University Teammates Took a Shot at Ruling the Basketball World". Somers Point News. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Eli Pasquale". UVic Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "All Inductees". Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Canada wins gold medal in basketball". 12 June 1983. Retrieved 28 October 2023.

Sources

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