Rene Canent

Rene A. Canent passed away on Saturday, May 30th, 2026 at the age of 80, peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones.

Born on February 23, 1946 in Manila, Philippines, he was the son of Ramon & Rosario Canent. Rene is also survived by two older siblings, Ramon and Rita Canent. His two younger brothers, Roy & Ronald, preceded him in death.

Rene was married to his wife, Maruja for 56 blessed years. He cherished his four daughters and seven grandchildren. He was proud of their accomplishments and always encouraged and supported them. Grandpa Rene made every effort to be present at all of their milestones.

A respected figure in Philippine basketball, Rene was a PBA pioneer whose career spanned more than a decade. He played for the YCO Painters (MICAA) from 1966 to 1975 before joining Tanduay in the Philippine Basketball Association, where he played from 1975 to 1980. Beyond his achievements on the court, he made a lasting impact as the first elected president of the PBA Players Association, where he helped give players a stronger voice and represented their interests.

Rene worked for Elizalde & Company, the owner of YCO, during his basketball years. After moving to the United States, he dedicated 22 years of service to the United States Postal Service in Long Beach, California, where he worked until his retirement. He took pride in his work and was respected by his colleagues for his commitment and strong work ethic.

Aside from playing basketball, Rene loved spending time on the golf course with his Kumpadres and the MGL GOLF CLUB. His passion and dedication to the sport earned him numerous awards and tournament victories, creating many cherished memories along the way.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Maruja, and their four daughters: his eldest daughter, Rubee, and her husband, Michael, along with their children, Matthias and Melanie; his second daughter, Rachelle, and her daughter, Aliyah Faith; his third daughter, Rizza, and her husband, Guillermo, along with their children, Izaiah and Leilani; and his youngest daughter, Roselyn, and her husband, Eric, along with their children, Dante and Brooklyn.

He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who cherished every moment spent with his family.

Date of Mass/Burial: Thursday, June 18th, 2026

~ Catholic Mass: St. Irenaeus Church 5201 Evergreen Ave Cypress, CA 90630 Time: 12pm - 1pm

~ Memorial Tribute: Patriots Chapel Forest Lawn 4471 Lincoln Ave Cypress, CA 90630 Time: 2pm - 3pm

~ Interment/Burial: Garden of Protection, Forest Lawn 4471 Lincoln Ave Cypress, CA 90630 Time: 3pm - 4pm