Filipino featherweight Roel “Akiyama” Rosauro is busy preparing for an eventual return to ONE Championship, but even with a hectic schedule, he remains up to date with his first love — basketball.
With the Golden State Warriors defending their titles against the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals, Rosauro does not plan to miss a minute of the action.
The 31-year-old also knows who will win the highly-anticipated seven-game series.
“Golden State will win. They’ve done it before and they have an advantage in everything for me,” said Rosauro, who is from Camotes Island in Cebu.
“Scoring, defense, and experience — those are the reasons why they’ll win it all again.”
That prediction was quickly put to the test as the Raptors shocked the Warriors in the opening game of the series last Friday.
With Kevin Durant’s availability still uncertain in this series, the Warriors look as vulnerable as ever. Rosauro, however, remains unfazed — especially since his team evened the series on Sunday evening.
“I know the importance of winning the first game,” he continued. “But for me, the experience of the Warriors in big games will help them adjust and get back into the series even without Durant."
An avid fan of two-time MVP Stephen Curry, basketball has always had a place in the heart of the former Filipino national Muay Thai silver medalist.
In fact, Rosauro admits that Curry’s incredible talents reignited his old love for the sport.
“Since 10 years old I was already playing basketball. In our local court, almost every youth comes in and plays daily because we’re all looking forward to playing for our barangay,” he explained.
“I admire Steph a lot. He’s not that tall, but he dominates. For me, he’s a complete player. His impact on the team is second to none, particularly his shooting.
Rosauro is certain that he is not the only one in the country who has their attention on the 2019 NBA Finals.
He knows how much Filipinos love basketball, and the NBA Finals is one of the most watched sporting events of the year.
“I know mixed martial arts is on the rise in the Philippines, but when you say sports here, the first thing that will come to their mind is basketball,” Rosauro said.
“It’s a part of their lives already — that’s why I am sure almost everyone is glued to their TV screens right now.”