INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Boxing superstar Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao Wednesday brushed off rumors that his marriage was on the rocks amid persistent reports that he flew a starlet and her whole family to Las Vegas to watch him win a record seventh world title.

In an interview aired over ABS-CBN as he prepared to fly home to a hero?s welcome on Friday after taking Miguel Cotto?s World Boxing Organization welterweight title in Las Vegas, Pacquiao sidestepped the issue. Again.

Pacquiao, 30, instead admonished the local press to report his achievements in the ring, ?not the private lives of people.? He added, ?I hope they honor the achievements that I have won for my fellow Filipinos.?

The day before, the champion was just as evasive, telling another TV crew, ?Why don?t we just enjoy this victory??

The glow from Saturday?s one-sided contest has been tarnished by reports that while in the United States, Pacquiao stayed in a different hotel?apart from his wife, Jinkee, with whom he has three children. Jinkee has since been shown twice on television, in tears.

According to the reports, the champ paid for the air tickets and hotel accommodation of Filipino starlet Krista Ranillo and her family, who all watched the bout live, further fueling rumors of a romantic liaison.

On Nov. 13, Philippine Daily Inquirer sports columnist Beth Celis wrote that Pacquiao had ?blushed like a schoolboy after his secret crush was revealed to the world.?

Celis said the champ was ?caught by surprise? when asked pointedly about Ranillo: ?Manny lifted his cell phone to hide his face. After he regained his composure, he replied, ?No comment.? Then he walked out.?

?Crab mentality?

In Wednesday?s interview, Pacquiao said: ?Let us avoid what I call our crab mentality. I am appealing to all of you to avoid that. Let us unite so we will all be happy.?

(He was drawing an analogy with Filipinos and crabs trapped in a vat. As one crab tries to claw its way out, others beneath it pull it back to their level.)

Pacquiao, who claimed a historic seventh world title in as many weight divisions with Sunday?s victory, is no stranger to controversy surrounding his private life. (He had earlier been forced to deny reports of a romantic involvement with actress Ara Mina.)

But neither is Krista. A few years ago, she was romantically linked to actor-filmmaker Michael de Mesa. Over the weekend, De Mesa?s ex-wife, actress Gina Alajar, posted on her Facebook account, ?If I am Jinkee Pacquiao, I will not give up Manny ? Krista Ranillo is not at all worth it!?

Pressed for comment from all sides, Alajar said it was ?unsolicited advice,? but that she stood by what she wrote.

Even Pacquiao?s mother Dionisia has gone on a talk show to say the rumors had no basis. The ?Pacmom? said she told Jinkee to take it all in stride, ?because her husband is famous?but she is still queen of his home.?