Pinoy Pride aces to Macau
GUESS where ALA Promotion’s Pinoy Pride 28 (History in the Making) winners will be celebrating Valentine’s Day next year?
The superstars of the Nov. 15 event, Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, “Prince” Albert Pagara and Milan Melindo, will be atop a boxing ring in Macau, defending their titles on Love Day on the site of the recent Manny Pacquiao-Chris Algieri bout.
The three don’t know who they will be up against as yet, but whoever the opponent, the trio said they are prepared. Training for the ALA fighters is an all-year affair.
Nietes broke the seven-year record of the legendary Gabriel “Flash” Elorde as the longest-reigning Filipino world champion by successfully defending the WBO junior flyweight belt against Carlos “Chapito” Velarde at Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City last Nov. 15.
In the same card, fifth-ranked IBF light flyweight Melindo stopped Mexico’s Saul “Baby” Juarez in an eliminator bout while Pagara demolished challenger Raul Mirales of Mexico to retain the IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight title.
Word has it that ALA International president Michael Aldeguer has been talking with Top Rank’s Bob Arum, and this Macau project could be the start of a co-venture with the Pacquiao promoter.
This we have yet to confirm, though. All we know for sure as of now is that the Aldeguers have big, global plans for their boxers and ALA .
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There’s really nothing new that can be reported about the condition of PBA legend Samboy Lim, who is still unconscious more than a week after he collapsed during an exhibition game at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
“What we do know is that his ex-wife lawyer Darlene Berberabe, his family and his doctors are exhausting all means to revive him,” a family friend informed the Inquirer.
Everyone is hoping that he still will be revived, most of all lawyer Lelen and their teenage daughter Jamie who continue to pray and hope.
“Atty. Lelen, who is president of Pag-IBIG Fund, has taken a leave from her executive obligations to keep watch on Samboy until he gets better. She said she saw Samboy yawn, but wasn’t sure if this sign was enough cause to be optimistic.”
“Samboy is now undergoing another therapy,” said the family friend. “To keep his vital organs, muscles, blood and tissues circulating well, he’s strapped to a machine that exercises for him. Samboy’s body is exercised but the machine does it for him,” the family friend explained.
Because of what happened to the PBA legend, he said he now knows the importance of knowing CPR.
“In any sporting activity, I think there should always be a doctor or even just a nurse who understands first aid on standby. This could save a life.”
From what I gathered, the PBA has pledged to help Lim’s family with their huge medical bills.
PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial confirmed this, but most importantly, he said the PBA is praying for the recovery of the “Skywalker.”
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Yeng Guiao was wearing his Magalang congressman hat the last time we talked.
Guiao was particularly excited about a project he had envisioned years back when he was still Pampanga vice governor: To transform Clark Air Base into a state-of-the art sports complex which can stage international sports competitions.
“The idea is to transfer Rizal Memorial Sports Complex to Clark so we’d have the funds to build the Clark complex which is perfect for this purpose because it already has some of the infrastructure required, like an airport,” said Guiao.
But how can RMSC be sold when nobody could tell who owns it? Is it the Philippine Sports Commission, City of Manila or the national government?
