By Eddie Alinea
Manny Pacquiao capped his two-day training in Manila Tuesday, declaring the day a “Seniors Citizens Day.”
Not that the day coincided with the national celebration of the of the Elderly Filipino Week, but because of the presence of three elderly members of the Philippine sports media – Inquirer columnist Recah Trinidad, 70, Manila Times columnist Manny Pinol, nearing 60, and this writer, 74 and broadcaster Rey Langit – who all watched in amazement how spiritedly Pacquiao shadow boxed, did the mitts, the speed ball and skipped rope.
“Senior Citizens Day ngayon,” Pacquiao pronounced as he approached and shook hands with his journalist visitors to the laughter of the some 50 spectators who were lucky to gain access to the closed door workout at the MP Tower Gym in Sampaloc, including Trinidad’s son Chino of GMA 7, Manila-based Filipino-Italian Ring Magazine correspondent Ryan Songalia and Abante Tonite sports editor Virgie Romano.
“Kumusta na, how’s the training going the past week since I left the camp in GenSan (General Santos City where he pitched his training camp three weeks ago?” asked this reporter, who covered the opening of his 10-week fine-tuning in preparation for his coming date with American Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios on November 24 in Macau.
“Okay, maganda ang takbo ng ensayo. Talagang medyo heavy ang training, siyempre, gusto nating manalo eh,” he retorted. “Balik na tayo sa GenSan sa Thursday upang doon simulan ang sparring. Dumating na ang sparring partner natin at ready na kami pareho.”
The Pacman was referring to International Boxing Federation welterweight titleholder Frederick Lawson of Ghana who flew in last Sunday to be the Filipino ring hero’s dance partner in coming back to the ring following his horrendous sixth round knockout loss to arch nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez December last year.
Following Pacquiao’s nine rounds doing the mitts, punishing Jonathan Penalosa, brother of former world titleholders Dodie Noy and Gerry, with powerful shots and wowing the crowd with his much-improved speed and feet and hands coordination, Trinidad, Pinol et al were all in predicting the eight-division world champion will be hands-down pick to prevail over Rios.
“Rios is much slower to Manny’s speed,” Pinol projected. “Rios will be a sucker to Manny’s power.”
The elder Trinidad agreed, but expressed apprehension on Pacquiao’s defense, which he said is crucial in winning or losing.
“Manny is very strong, no doubt about it. He’s fast,” Trinidad said. “But he also needs to avoid being hit. Rios, despite his slowness, can hit and if he connects, something can happen. His handlers should provide a defense mechanism to avoid that.”
For a guy, who was in hibernation for almost year since he last fought, Pacquiao, indeed, according to Songalia, amazing in his training. “I wasn’t in GenSan when Manny began training, but with I’ve been hearing and what I saw yesterday and today, I think Manny’s really ready to come back.”
Even Lawson, who in-between limbering up to shake off jet lag couldn’t help watched Pacquiao do his things. “He’s good. No wonder he’s an eight-division champion.”
Photo (L-R): PDI’s Recah Trinidad, former governor and journalist Manny Pinol, Pacquiao and Eddie Alinea at the Pacquiao’s gym in Sampaloc, Manila Tuesday. Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea.
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