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BASKETBALL lost another of its great servants and passionate devotees on New Year's Eve when Ricci Cragg passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Ricci was 54 but always seemed younger, such was his energy and love of the game.

"Ricci was a lovable larrikin and a great character through the great years of the Canberra Cannons," said the club's three-time NBL championship playmaker Phil Smyth.

"I think he started off helping out setting up the courtside signs and when I first met him he owned a pizza business and a landscaping business.

"He came to the Cannons through his friendship with Col Alexander and was a sports tragic who just loved sport and the Cannons."

Former Cannons centre and shot-blocking champ Simon Dwight said Ricci (pictured) had been at the forefront of Canberra's finest NBL era.

"He was involved with the Cannons for a long time during the great time that was the 80's and also the 90's as both general manager, marketing manager, then drinks carrier or anything that was needed really," Dwight recalled.

"He was an exceptional bloke who was well known and liked among clubs and players alike.

"Ricci had been battling pancreatic cancer for a couple of years."

Smyth said Cragg's greatest quality was his reliability in any situation.

"I swear you could ring Ricci up at two in the morning to say you had a blocked drain or something and he'd be right around to fix it," Smyth said.

"That's the sort of bloke he was, with a bit of mischief thrown in for good measure.

"He will be greatly missed and always fondly remembered."

The funeral service will be held at Christ Church Anglican Church, Rutledge Street, Queanbeyan on Friday.

It will start at 10.30am with the burial to follow at Queanbeyan Lawn Cemetery.

R.I.P. to another of our game's great characters.