By Alex Madrid / info@eurohoops.net
Sadiel Rojas described himself “as a physical player, not a dirty player”. And the truth is that nobody wants to be defended by this half American-half Dominican small forward. He is just 1.93 meters tall (6.33 ft) but he can guard even frontcourt players thanks to his physical style of play.
Rojas is reputed as a tough guy but all the work he does is for team’s benefit. We don’t need to go far to find examples: after breaking four teeth against Barcelona in an ACB game this season he continued playing and at the end, they achieved the road victory.
As the great fighter that he is, Rojas has overcome hard moments in his life and basketball career. In his college days, he went with a group of friends to Wichita to visit his family. They played basketball and also had fun but everyone was somewhat tired when they decided to return to Oklahoma…
The forward was driving while his six friends fell asleep in the car. Then, Rojas’ eyes also began to close. When he woke up, the car was going through a field. He tried to react, but the vehicle rolled seven times and it ended upside down. As he said to Spanish media Libertad Digital, “I couldn’t stop thinking that everyone could have died. We were living a miracle“.
With university behind him, professional basketball awaited Rojas. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NBA D-League draft. Fort Wayne Mad Ants acquired his rights and a few months later he was waived due to injury. Rojas tried to dunk and fell badly.”When I broke my back I could hardly move. I was very afraid. I couldn’t even tie my shoelaces for four months“.
The Dominican came back stronger than ever. In 2014, he was named LNB defensive player of the year, he was included in D-League All-Defensive Second Team and also won the trophy with the Mad Ants before signing with UCAM Murcia.
The sympathy and kindness of Sadiel Rojas are a fact. In Spain, he has developed his altruistic side earning the affection of Murcia citizens. He created “Guerreros de Rojas” (Rojas’ Warriors), a sports initiative to help in the development of young people at risk of social exclusion or poverty through basketball. Rojas is really involved with the project and he trains twice a week with the kids.
With Roja’s devotion, Murcia can go far in Basketball Champions League. His numbers prove what he brings to his team (10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds averaged per game), and many backcourt players will suffer his sticky defense. After all, if not anything else, Sadiel Rojas is a fighter.
Photo Credit: BCL