Steven Keith MANALO

They said I was too big, too reckless, and too broken to keep playing. Every ankle sprain, jumper's knee, jammed thumb, and aching landing was another reason to quit—but like Giannis, I chose to turn pain into fuel instead of excuses. They see the aggression, but they don't see the nights spent recovering, taping injuries, and coming back stronger. Giannis embraced being the villain when the crowd turned against him; I'll do the same if that's the price of competing without fear. They can boo the villain—I only care about hearing the final buzzer after giving everything I had.