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[av_heading heading=’BUZZER BEATER | Gender not a hindrance’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Friday, May 5, 2017
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FORMER World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Roilo Golez proved that being a gay man is not a barrier for him to become a professional boxer and a mixed martial arts fighter.
In an interview with the Buzzer Beater on Wednesday, the Maco, Compostela Valley native said he does not consider his gender as an obstruction to pursue the sport and help support his family.
“Noong bata pa lang talaga maganda na ako. Alam ko na sa sarili ko kung ano preference ko,” said Golez. “Pumasok lang ako sa boxing dahil ito ang nakikita kong paraan para maiahon ko ang pamilya ko sa hirap.”
“Bata pa ako nun at vendor sa palengke nung magkaroon ng boxing event dun kaya sinubukan kong sumali at sinuwerte namang nanalo ako,” he added. “Simula noon sumasali na ako sa mga amateur boxing.”
“Nineteen ako nun nung magsimula akong mag-pro. Ang unang plano ko lang sana ay mga five years. Pero nung nanalo na ako ng championship na-engganyo na ako,” said Golez.
The 29-year-old Golez won his lone professional boxing title (WBC Asia minimumweight title) in 2011 when he scored an upset over Thai boxer Jadsada Polyjam at the latter’s home turf.
Golez admitted that it was not easy for him during his early years as a pro boxer — he received the expected discrimination from his fellow boxers and it only stopped when he won his boxing title.
“Sa simula nakatanggap din ako ng pang-aasar sa mga kapwa kong boxer, ayaw ko na lang pong i-elaborate. Pero nung nag-champion na ako, tumigil na rin yung mga ganun,” he said.
“Sa ngayon wala pa sa plano natin ang tumigil. At siguro kapag nag-retire na ako, hindi pa rin ako aalis sa sport na ito as a trainer,” said Golez, who also works as trainer at the Manny Pacquiao Gym.
“Ako gusto ko maging inspiration sa mga kapwa ko miyembro ng LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) na huwag silang mahihiyang gawin yung mga gusto nila. Magpakatotoo lang sila,” Golez said.
TENORIO PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second straight time this conference, LA Tenorio has been named as Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of Week following another stellar performance for the red-hot Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
The Kings playmaker had a significant role in their twin wins last week against NLEX Road Warriors, 101-92, and at the expense of Katropa, 101-82 in the battle of streaking squads.
Tenorio averaged 17 points, 5.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in the Kings’ last two games to beat the likes of San Miguel Beer’s Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter and Katropa’s Castro for the weekly citation.
The 32-year-old Tenorio played beautiful music with import Justin Brownlee in a vicious 42-point, third-quarter scoring against the Road Warriors where he finished with 13 points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds.
Four days later, Tenorio took advantage of Katropa’s perimeter defense after firing four of his five three-pointers in the final period to finish the game with 21 points, six assists, three rebounds, and a steal in 33 minutes of action.
The former Gilas Pilipinas guard hopes that the Kings will maintain their sharp form despite a long break coming up. They won’t return to action until May 7 against the Alaska Aces./PN
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