Monday, July 10, 2006
Espejo: Sidelights and highlights
By Edwin G. Espejo
Pacquiao Watch
AS EXPECTED, many in Gensan were disappointed Manny Pacquiao did not knock out the tough but badly outclassed Mexican beak buster Oscar Larios.
For one brief moment in the seventh round, though, I thought I would hit the jackpot as I earlier predicted Manny would win inside seven rounds.
But it was not to be, or meant to be as some corners are now suggesting.
Well, Manny had said enough. He wanted to give his countrymen a good boxing show. And, indeed, it was. Except during those tense moments in the third round when Manny's knees buckled.
Call it ring savvy or excellent business ploy, but the 12-round unanimous decision is still a win. A win by any name is still a win to paraphrase a famous line.
***
Manny looked gaunt during the weigh in Saturday at the Discovery Suites. He wore dark glasses and was dead serious, never looking at the crowd as he was ushered into the weighing scale.
Right after hitting the 1291/2 pound mark, Manny indulged himself to a hearty breakfast that included steaming not bulalo, steamed lapu-lapu, fried chicken, generous serving of tropical fruits, and a bottle of energy-drink Gatorade. He slipped out using the exit door just as they way he came in.
In contrast, Larios was bouncing up and down, shaking hands with the crowd and gamely posed for souvenirs as soon as he emerged from the elevator.
***
Guess who was the most wanted man in Gensan days and even weeks before the Pacquiao-Larios tiff aside from the Pacman himself?
You guess it right. It was lawyer Franklin "Jeng" Gacal Jr.
Days prior to leaving Gensan to cover Manny's bout at the Araneta Coliseum, I was told by Glenda, Jeng's sister in law, that lawyer-colleagues of Jeng all the way from Manila to Davao were calling up the latter's residence asking for tickets.
Jeng, you see, is Manny Pacquiao Promotions corporate secretary.
I finally got in touch with Jeng a week before Manny's fight. Jeng apologized for getting himself scarce and unreachable.
It turned out he lost his cellular phone. So there is no truth in the rumor that he went on hiding. Still, he made the request of keeping his new mobile phone number a secret. At least for the time being.
Jeng was like a spinning top overseeing all details of the Pacquiao-Larios fight including the undercards.
He was billeted at the Lucio-Tan owned posh Discovery Suites in Ortigas for duration of the promotion.
***
Among those seen at the P47K-ringside seat rows were LTO's Gauvain Benzonan, city prosecutor Edilberto Jamora, former city councilor Earl Whitmer, tuna exporter Joel "Joker" Santos, Maasim mayor Aniceto "Jojo" Lopez, Kiamba mayor Raul "Danny" Martinez and his brother Provincial Board member Cornelio, Totong Vargas. In the next seat rows that cost P30 grand were Goody Llido-Peñalosa and her sister Shandy Llido-Pestaño, former 601st Brigade commander now 2nd ID commanding general Major General Alexander Yano who came with his wife and lanky son Ervin, former Mutya ng Mindanao beauty Vanessa Mercado, former Malungon vice mayor Reynaldo "Bong" Constantino, Sarangani IT consultant Ariel Decena and Bong Aquia.
Some of them were literally rubbing elbows with movie stars and other celebrities. More next week.
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(July 10, 2006 issue)
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