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?