From birth he has been restricted to sitting on a skateboard just to move around, but Pablo Mangyao who loves basketball just like any other Filipino, has never allowed his physical handicap to keep him away from his favourite sport.
The 41-year-old, who hails from Bohol, is a professional referee with the Basketball Association of the Philippines and his skills have served him well back home as well as in the UAE.
“I started refereeing in 1984,'' says Mangyao. “I was a coach before for the Bohol Institute of Technology team from 1979 to 1983 and after that I became a referee.''
Ramon Pizarras, chairman of the Filipino Basketball Centre and the key figure in convincing him to make the switch, explained that the whole move was not an easy task.
“It was beyond his expectation that he could come to the UAE,'' reveals Pizarras. “With his disability, nobody back home believed he could come to the UAE, until I offered him a chance.''
Mangyao adds: “He offered me the chance in 2004 and I took two years and then decided to accept.''
According to Pizarras, Mangyao was a popular figure in his hometown of Baclayon, Bohol. “The famous Filipino actor, Cesar Montano, who is Pablo's neighbour, would ask him to officiate all the games in the tournament he used to conduct as all the children were very fond of him.''
It is spine-tingling stuff to see Mangyao scurry up and down the court on his skateboard keeping pace with the game.
And he has a great relationship with the players.
“He has never had problems or experienced any abuse from players or coaches,'' says Pizarras.
“They respect him not only because of his physical condition but also because he does a good job as a referee.''
But Mangyao does have to put up with a few sceptics as well.
“Some people don't believe I can referee a whole game due to my disability,'' says Mangyao, before Pizarras adds: “But when the game starts and he makes the right calls, everyone applauds him''.
Currently Mangyao is having a tough time going about his job as the 4th Filipino Basketball Centre Winter Basketball Tournament nears its conclusion at Al Shaab Club in Sharjah.
“I am waiting to referee in the summer tournament which will be in Dubai as the court there is better.
“Here, it is very hard for me to move about,'' he says.
Mangyao has no doubts as to what heights he would have reached were it not for his disability. “If I wasn't disabled, I would have become a great player like my cousin Peter Naron who plays in the Philippine Basketball Association league in Manila for Purefoods,'' he says.
Pizarras adds: “He does regret his disability. But he's also thankful to the Almighty that in spite of his condition, he is able to earn an honest living and support his family back home with his skills as a referee.''
Pablo Mangyao
- Was appointed town sports coordinator by Felix Uy, former mayor of Tagbilaran, the capital city of Bohol.
- Is Vice-President of the Association of Disabled Persons in the province of Bohol (The body includes 2,179 disabled people).
- Also officiates in volleyball games, but says basketball is his number one sport.
