CEBU CITY—Looking in the pink of health, Sammy Gello-Ani did not bear the slightest trace of the frightening trauma he went through at the Mar De Plata in Argentina only a few weeks ago.
Sammy is the manager of Johnriel Casimero, the Filipino boxer who got mauled by an irate mob after he defeated Argentine Luis Lazarte to win the WBO interim Flyweight title.
Like all the other members of the Casimero entourage, Sammy said he did not escape the wrath of the mob that swooped down from the galleries, trapping Casimero and his team by the ring.
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“You should have seen me after that incident. I was black and blue all over from all the beating I got. I also sustained a big lump on top of my head, which took some time to subside,” related Sammy.
“If you saw that video showing the wild, angry mob attacking somebody under the ring, that was me being attacked,” Sammy said.
According to Sammy, although no one from their group was spared, at least there was no serious casualty.
“We were fortunate that no one got as badly injured as refereed Eddie Claudio, whose blood spilled all over the ring floor. Blood would not stop oozing from his busted lips and nose. He had to be rushed to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment.
Sammy said one of his attackers was no less than the son of Lazarte, whom he had even gifted with a jacket.
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Although JB Baylon has severed his professional ties with Coca-Cola and is also no longer Coke’s representative to the PBA board, he remains the No. 1 fan and supporter of the Tigers.
Last Saturday he even flew to Legazpi City to watch their game against Petron Blaze, traveling at his own expense.
Ironically, when he was still team manager-governor of the Powerade Tigers, he often stayed away from the game venue, believing that his presence brought bad luck to the team.
He would only go inside the venue if the Tigers were already assured of victory.
Powerade won over Petron by a huge margin last Saturday.
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Billy Ray Bates, who disappeared from his Eastwood condo on the day when he was supposed to take a flight back home to the United States, has been sighted somewhere in Laguna.
According to reports, a fan has taken pity on the former PBA import and has offered to provide him with food, and shelter for an indefinite period of time.
How long this fan could pay for Billy Ray’s expensive mode of living, no one can tell.
Reports have it however that the fan from Laguna is starting to complain because his celebrity guest keeps the air-conditioner running 24/7. He also brought a girlfriend with him to impose on the fan, meaning this Good Samaritan needs to feed two big mouths with two big appetites.
By the way, a source who has access to the Black Superman provided me with a postscript to the mauling incident that happened in his condo some weeks back.
According to our source, Billy’s guest narrowly escaped a possible untimely demise by streaking out of the condo, naked as the day he was born and running for his life.
“He left his slippers behind, he ran barefoot,” said my friend who likes horses.
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I wish I had friends like Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey.
Concerned about the recovery of their mutual friend Eugene Tejada, who suffered a debilitating injury about five years ago, the two cagers of Talk ‘N Text chipped in to sponsor a round-trip ticket for their fellow Fil-Am to and from Manila.
The trip to the Philippines was supposed to determine if Eugene had at least gotten over the psychological trauma brought about by the incident.
Physically, the recovery is slow, although he now can walk with the aid of metal canes.