4th January 2013

Pacquiao Showing Early Signs of Parkinson's Disease Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on January 4, 2013, 5:44 pm (By Efren B. Chavez, The Daily Tribune, 4 Jan 2013)   A neurologist on Thursday said he has observed early signs of Parkinson’s disease in Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Dr. Rustico Jimenez, president of Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, told The Daily Tribune that among the early signs of the disease in Pacquiao include stuttering and hand twitching. Jimenez urged the Filipino champion to retire from boxing to avoid what happened to Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) and award-winning trainer Freddie Roach who were both afflicted with the progressive disorder of the nervous system. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

9th December 2012

Pacquiao Stunned in Sixth Round Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on December 9, 2012, 3:35 pm (By Greg Bishop, New York Times, 9 Dec 2012) Juan Manuel Marquez stood over Manny Pacquiao as he fell to the canvas after taking a knockout punch in the sixth round. Photo: Steve Marquis/Reuters LAS VEGAS --- Manny Pacquiao never saw it coming. He never saw the punch that snapped his head back Saturday and dropped him to the canvas and left him sprawled there momentarily, face down, while his wife sobbed uncontrollably and the packed crowd at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena rose to its feet in shock. With that, a rivalry known for its lack of a definitive triumph suddenly had the most definitive ending of them all. Juan Manuel Marquez threw both arms skyward, as blood dripped from his nose. Bedlam ensued all around him, but Marquez said little. His face said it all. His face summarized four fights between two men, two scored in favor of Pacquiao, another one a draw. His face summarized the release of nearly a decade of frustration. For the moment that Marquez waited for and obsessed over, for the moment he set the record straight. “I threw the perfect punch,” he said.   LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 08: (R-L) Juan Manuel Marquez lands a right to the face of Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 8, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

11th September 2012

Manny Pacquiao could be in for a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on September 11, 2012, 2:56 pm (By Kevin Cole, 11 Sep 2012)  Promoter Bob Arum is trying to work out contracts to pit Manny Pacquiao against Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas, leaving the man who defeated the Filipino congressman in June out in the cold. Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez could fight for a fourth time on Dec. 8. (AP) Pacquiao lost a highly controversial decision to Timothy Bradley on June 9 in a bout that most felt Pacquiao won handily. Pacquiao initially said he would exercise the rematch clause, but ultimately opted instead to go for a fourth fight against Marquez. "We are hopeful we can work out deals with both guys and come to terms for a fight on Dec. 8," Arum told Yahoo! Sports on Monday, but insisted contract terms hadn't been reached. "If they had been, I would tell you." Earlier Monday, Arum said no decision had been made and said that Pacquiao was planning to fly to the U.S. on Thursday to meet with him to discuss his plans. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

10th August 2012

FILIPINAS BIG LEAGUE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on August 10, 2012, 12:41 am (By Cedelf Tupas, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Friday. 10Aug 2012, 12:41 am)   GOOD NEWS FROM KALAMAZOO Forget the forgettable Philippine campaign in the London Olympics. Manila softbelles wave the Philippine flag and whoop it up after winning the 2012 Big League World Series Softball finals at Vanderberg Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Thursday. PHOTOS COURTESY OF KALAMAZOO GAZETTE   The team that almost did not make it to the tournament for lack of funds ended its campaign in a blaze of glory. And in a tribute to its compatriots back home, the team said it was dedicating its victory to the tens of thousands of Filipinos suffering from the onslaught of devastating floods. Conquering challenges both on and off the field, Team Manila captured the Big League Softball World Series title on Wednesday (Thursday morning in Manila) with a powerful 14-2 victory over the United States-West bet, Westchester, California, at Vanderberg Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

4th July 2012

No crime in Bradley's win over Pacquiao, Nevada rules without interviewing judges Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on July 4, 2012, 8:01 am (By Kevin Iole, Sports Yahoo! News, 4 July 2012) Manny Pacquiao reacts after losing to Timothy Bradley Jr. (Getty) LAS VEGAS --- Many believe that Timothy Bradley's victory over Manny Pacquiao in their June 9 bout for the World Boxing Organization welterweight title was a robbery, but the Nevada attorney general said Tuesday it was not a crime. Catherine Cortez Masto, the Nevada attorney general, wrote in a letter to Top Rank's Bob Arum that "there do not appear to be any facts or evidence to indicate that a criminal violation occurred." That pleased Bradley manager Cameron Dunkin, who said, "I'm not surprised at all." However, it did little to soothe the feelings of Arum, who in the immediate aftermath of the majority decision favoring Bradley was blamed by the public for somehow influencing the result. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 1

25th June 2012

Pastors swarming Pacquiao for money Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on June 25, 2012, 9:56 pm (By Cebu Daily News and The Inquirer, 25 June 2012) GENERAL SANTOS CITY --- Protestant pastors have been coming in droves to Manny Pacquiao ‘s mansion here. And their number is increasing each day. One day, seven of them coming from different religious factions arrived. The next day, the number rose to 10. They take a bath, sleep and eat right there as if it is their own house. They are the new phantoms of the boxing icon. They follow him wherever he goes ---  from here to Baguio and even the United States. They started stalking the Filipino ring idol after the Pacquiao-Marquez fight in November 2011, when the world’s eight-division boxing champ decided to change his lifestyle and began holding daily Bible study with his family, friends and supporters. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

15th May 2012

Maasin's pride, Christian Ivan Salud wins gold, silver in Palarong Pambansa 2012 Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on May 15, 2012, 4:44 pm   MAASIN CITY—Maasin swimmer Christian Ivan Salud is the sole player from Eastern visayas delegation who brought home 1 gold and 1 silver during the recently held Palarong Pambansa 2012 in Linggayen, Pangasinan.    Salud,  a student from the College of Maasin, bagged Gold medal in 50m breast stroke and another Silver medal in 100m breast stroke. His proud trainor and coach are Brian Morales and Jilma Maraon. Also behind Salud’s winning were local leaders headed by Mayor Maloney Samaco and school officials who did everything so Salud can get all the trainings for the event.     Salud has been a consistent winner in Batang Pinoy, PRISAA, EVRAA, and other local swimming competitions.   In the final tally,  National Capitol Region (NCR) dominated the event, followed by Western Visayas and Southern Tagalog region.    Eastern Visayas with only 1 gold thru Salud, 4 silver, and 4 bronze medals was ranked 17th, the last spot.   Palarong Pambansa is the biggest annual sports events for both elementary and high school students from private and public schools in the country conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd). BY RONALD O. REYES Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

2nd February 2012

Mayweather to fight Cotto, not Pacquiao, in May Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on February 2, 2012, 6:27 pm (By AFP News, 2 Feb 2012)   Unbeaten US boxing star Floyd Mayweather announced Wednesday he will fight Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto on May 5, ending hopes for a showdown with Manny Pacquiao before November. Mayweather will step up from the welterweight ranks and fight for Cotto's World Boxing Association super welterweight crown in Las Vegas before he begins a 90-day jail sentence on June 1 after a domestic violence conviction. Boxing fans have long sought a matchup between Mayweather and Filipino icon Pacquiao. Mayweather even made a Twitter challenge for the Asian star to "Step Up, Punk", but they could not work out a deal so Mayweather went to Cotto.  Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

31st January 2012

Robbery, unsportsmanlike mar EVRAA opening Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on January 31, 2012, 5:41 am By Jani Arnaiz EVRAA flame lighted   January 31, 2012 MAASIN CITY – A case of robbery and unsportsmanlike behavior mar the first day of the 2012 edition of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet held here in the city from January 29 – February 4.   A 20-year old Crisanto Nollora of Combado village, was caught by pursuing policemen assigned at the quarters of Calbayog city delegation at the Maasin City National High School in the same village after he took the P720 cash of one of the athletes at around 3:00 Monday dawn.According to P/Supt. Hector Enage, Maasin city police chief, Nollora forced his entry by taking the jalousies in one of the rooms but the athlete took notice and shouted for help.   “We were vigilant with our guard in the different billeting quarters but this recidivist thief was watching our men after making the rounds before making his move,” said Enage adding “kalami jud sumbagon, pakauwaw lang.”  Only P40 was recovered from the suspect who is now at the police lock out. Robbery was filed against the suspect. Upon knowing the incident, Maasin city mayor Malone Samaco gave the athlete P1,000. He castigated the suspect telling him, “You should be thankful that the Maasin mayor is a Christian. If you were in Davao city, gihipos naka.” Keynote Speaker DepEd Assec. Tonisito Umali (center), Reg. Dir. Bautista and Mayor Samaco (left) at the opening of EVRAA At the Capitol tennis court where players from Maasin City and Leyte province was set to compete in girls tennis singles, police were called after coaches from both camps have unpleasant exchanges of accusation. Enage said Maasin City coaches have accused the officials of the Leyte team of intimidating their player, Mary Joy Calapre, a “Batang Pinoy” gold medalist and best athlete in tennis. The city officials alleged that Leyte coach approached the gold medalist and held her chin prompting them to confront the Leyte team coach, said Enage adding that the latter was only approaching for a photo op. But Calapre reportedly said, the Leyte coach told her not to be serious in her game because she is a sure winner already. The incident was reported in the police blotter. More than 5,000 athletes and officials from six provinces and 4 cities in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) participated in the 2012 EVRAA edition held here for the second time. Maasin City which first hosted in 2005 was the over-all champion. In his speech, keynote speaker, DepEd assistant secretary Tonisito Umali encouraged the players saying “Let me share with you a serenity prayer shared to me by my father, Atty. Antonio Umali: “We pray Lord, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” He pointed out that this is true with what you are doing, “that God will give us the strength to change things that we can, the courage to change that I can, pray the inner peace. That if we compete and lose, accepts it and try to recover.” “In sports there is unity, no doubt. Sports will unite our province and our nation.” We the slogan, First Smoke Free EVRAA, Gov. Damian Mercado and Rep. Roger Mercado welcome the guests. While OIC city schools division superintendent greeted the guest with “the city that cares for your health. Mayor Samaco for his part said, “We may the smallest city and schools division in the region but we are the city with a big heart.” Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

23rd January 2012

Pacman to Floyd: Take it or leave it Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on January 23, 2012, 10:24 am (By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star, 23 Jan 2012, 1124 hours) MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao won’t take anything less than 50 percent even if it means the sudden death of the latest talks of a superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. “That’s it. That’s the best offer from Manny,” said the Filipino boxer’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal. “If Floyd says no, then fight someone else. I don’t think Manny will agree to anything less than 50 percent,” said the lawyer from General Santos City. Pacquiao said a few days ago he spoke to Mayweather on the phone and said they can do the fight if there’s a 50-50 split of the purse. Mayweather said it’s not going to happen that way. Gacal did not say who that “someone else” is but signs point to Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, who may get a chance to avenge his 2009 loss to Pacquiao. However, reports said Cotto isn’t jumping with joy over the possibility of a rematch with Pacquiao because he’s also being considered by Mayweather. Cotto said he will study the “best deal” being offered to him. The undefeated American will fight on May 5 in Las Vegas, by hook or by crook, and if it’s not Pacquiao, it could be Canelo Alvarez or Cotto. Aside from Cotto, also being considered as alternate opponents for Pacquiao are Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson. But it was reported a couple of weeks ago that Pacquiao has Cotto on his mind if it’s not Mayweather. It was Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, who seemed to have spilled the beans when he said Pacquiao likes to face Cotto instead of Marquez, Bradley and Peterson. The boxer’s wife made the statement just before Pacquiao gave his promoter, Bob Arum, who was then in Manila, the name of the alternate opponent he has chosen. Arum has also picked June 9 as the date of Pacquiao’s next fight in Las Vegas, and it comes on the eve of the Puerto Rico Day parade in New York City. But if Cotto decides to fight Pacquiao, they will have to deal with the weight issue because the wide-bodied Puerto Rican, now the light-middleweight champion, may find it difficult to go down to 147 lb. Pacquiao also said he won’t fight heavier than 147 lb. Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0