Veterans take part in the 2013 Valor Games in San Antonio. Photo courtesy RRisemas Photography.
Disabled veterans defeat San Antonio Spurs
Three disabled veterans recently made a big impression on members of the San Antonio Spurs.
Veterans Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Spang and Chris Petway defeated Spurs centers Matt Bonner, Thiago Splitter and forward Aron Baynes, 28-6, during a 20-minute game of the Valor Games Southwest Sept. 24.
Gonzalez, Spang and Petway won a three-on-three double-elimination wheelchair basketball tournament and then received a bonus surprise by going up against the three Spurs players.
“It was a lot of fun,” says Gonzalez, who is from New York. “I’m glad there are people out there who care about us.”
Bonner acknowledged it was hard moving with the wheelchair and that it takes more than just footwork.
“We’re competitive. We’re professional athletes and 28-6 final score hurts your pride a little bit,” Bonner says during a TV interview with sanantoniosports.org. “These guys are athletes just like us. They come out and work their craft and are competitive and play to win. It was cool to be part of that world. People who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and the freedoms we have, it was just great to be able to get out here, have fun and show support.”
The Valor Games Southwest is presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Paralympics, Valero and San Antonio Sports and visited San Antonio for the first time.
For more information, visit San Antonio Sports online.
Originally reported by the San Antonio Express-News. All rights reserved.
