By Mike Drake
A coordinated terrorist attack in Brussels, Belgium would be felt all the way to Port Angeles, Wash. Former Peninsula Pirate basketball star Christian Manzanza was riding on the Maalbeek Metro train that was targeted by ISIS on March 22. A suicide bomber entered the train car that Manzanza was riding in, a bomb went off and shrapnel and fire raced throughout the enclosed area. Although the fragments from the explosive missed Manzanza, unfortunately the flame did not. Manzanza we severely burned in the explosion and would spend the following days recovering in the hospital.
Manzanza was commuting to work when the bomb went off several feet in front of him. He was not hit directly by the explosion but the flames raced over people that were in front of him. According to Martha Hurd, whom hosted Manzanza as a foreign exchange student, Manzanza put his hands up to shield his head as the flames rushed towards him, causing second degree burns to his face and arms.
“His physical wounds are healing but the emotional will take some time. If anyone can pull through something like this, it’s Christian,” said Hurd. “He was born in the Congo and when he was 3 years old one of his sisters had a medical condition that necessitated the family to make a move for more medical services, so they moved to Belgium.” In 2009 Hurd took on Manzanza as a foreign exchange student so that Manzanza could play basketball for Peninsula College. “I got a call from the international student staff at Peninsula College wondering if we (Hurd and husband David) would be interested in taking in a student that needed a home, and it ended up being Christian. We met with Christian and the next day he moved in.”
“I’m doing better now,” Manzanza said via e-mail. “I’m recovering pretty well from the burns I have on my face and hands. I still have a long way to go for the mental part. I’ like to thank you for all the thoughts, the encouragements and especially the picture. That just put a big smile on my face. Thank you, Say hi to everyone.”
During his time at Peninsula College, Manzanza lead the Pirates with 28 blocked shots in his sophomore year. Manzanza was one of two captains of the basketball team during the ‘09 to ‘10 season.
Peninsula College Dean of Athletics, Rick Ross said, “He was a pretty positive guy. His teammates and teachers really enjoyed having him here. He was a very hard working basketball player.”
Former teammate and now Peninsula College Athletics Activities Coordinator Jeremiah Johnson said, “I played with Christian during the 2009-2010 season, the last year coach (Peter) Stewart was the (head) coach. He was one of two captains we had that year and was a phenomenal athlete. (He is) naturally strong and athletic, can jump out of the gym and when he decides to score, no one can stop him. There is a reason he has been playing professional basketball (in Europe) ever since he finished his two year career at Peninsula College.”