Azkals rape case heightens network war

Looks like the Azkals-Coling issue has escalated into an undeclared battle of the giant television networks: ABS-CBN for the Azkals on the one side and GMA-7 for the alleged victim, Amanda Coling, on the other.
ABS-CBN has been featuring the Azkals on their news programs, giving them the airtime to express what they have to say about the accusation that four of them had raped Coling, as she alleged on the Internet.
GMA-7, on the other hand, has been interviewing Coling, although she practically has nothing to say about the alleged crime committed by the Azkals. She complains instead of being fired by FHM Magazine from her job as a model because of the Twitter item.
Coling, who claims to be a scholar at the University of the Philippines, mentions that she has a lawyer, making us wonder if she will soon file a case against the Azkals or against FHM for breach of contract, if there is one.
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A respected colleague who has an inside track to the Azkals disclosed that it is possible one of the Azkals may have surrendered to seduction. But if that was the case, there was, presumably, no mutual consent between the parties involved.
My colleague said all these brouhaha about a rape being perpetrated by the four Azkals is the doing of “a crazy, disgruntled alien who wanted to join the team but was turned down.
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Don’t be surprised if—after all has been said and done—the supposedly disbanded Barako Bulls will rise from the ashes like the mythical Phoenix and report for active duty in the 2011-2012 PBA season.
Last July 8, the PBA board of governors approved the sale of the Barako franchise to Air21, the third company in the 36-year-old league to own more than one ballclub.
What has not been divulged so far are the provisions included in the sale.
For example, I got it from a good source that Air21 owner Bert Lina did not only buy the Barako franchise but also acquired stakes in the Barako Bull business, effectively making the Barako owners his partners.
Technically, Barako Bull is now a part of the Lina Group of Companies.
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WBO and WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. who has reconciled with Top Rank Promotions chief Bob Arum, is looking forward to at least two major fights before the year is over.
Nonito is coming to Manila in November to marry the former Rachel Marcial in a church cremony. The couple tied the knot in a civil ceremony previously.
But before the wedding, Nonito plans to fight again, according to an item in the Ronnie Nathanielsz website.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a tuneup fight or a title fight because once my mind is set and I’m physically and mentally prepared, I’ll fight anybody,” said the Filipino Flash, No.3 in Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound rankings.
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If you’re one of those who jumped for joy and rushed to the streets to dance because of the news that Manny Pacquiao had sacked his adviser of three years, Michael Koncz, well, sorry to burst your bubble.
“It isn’t so,” said respected Top Rank chief publicist Lee Samuels, who has been deluged with phone calls and e-mail queries since the item came out in a column of boxing columnist and former North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol.
Samuels checked with both Koncz and Pacquiao who assured him that the Canadian lawyer remains his adviser.
Samuels said Manny, who has become a global icon, needs someone like Koncz who is a master at untangling problems.
“Manny is so huge now like Muhammad Ali that he can’t handle it alone,” Samuels said.