Emilio Daez reflects on his first-ever lead role as Love at First Spike comes to a successful close.
Photo: Emilio Daez/Instagram
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Emilio revealed that he saw a lot of himself in Uno Santillan, the character he portrayed in the digital series—and how the show gave more representation of the LGBTQ+ community.
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“I see a lot of myself in Uno. On the surface, Love at First Spike is a volleyball romcom, but at its heart, it’s a story about acceptance and the importance of giving the LGBTQIA+ community the space, respect, and visibility it deserves,” he wrote.
“Stepping into Uno’s shoes made me confront my own assumptions and realize that understanding each other takes more than just living side by side. It takes listening, learning, and being willing to challenge the stereotypes we’ve grown up with,” he added.
The rising actor was also proud to be in the sports series, which handled LGBTQ+ issues with honesty and accuracy.
“This project means so much to me because these stories matter. They deserve to be told truthfully and without compromise, to be seen by audiences who might never have heard them otherwise, and I’m proud to have been part of bringing those truths into the light,” he shared.
Finally, he expressed his gratitude to everyone he has worked with on the show.
“I’m deeply grateful to Direk Ivan for trusting me with Uno, a character who became a bridge between two worlds. At first, I didn’t feel ready to carry that responsibility, but with the guidance of Direk Ivan and Ate Jen, the dedication of our crew, and the generosity of my castmates, I was able to find him. Thank you as well to iWant for making this possible, and of course, my Star Magic family,” he said.
“To the entire Love at First Spike family — thank you for your passion, your trust, and your friendship. And to everyone who has followed this journey, I hope this story stays with you the way it will always stay with me. Finale out today,” he concluded.
Love at First Spike is a coming-of-age sports series about Uno, a basketball varsity captain. After a violent incident gets him removed from his team, he decides to try out for the boys’ volleyball team, which is made up of LGBTQ+ members.
The sports romantic-comedy series was Emilio Daez’s first lead performance. He rose to mainstream prominence when he joined Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition.
