Manny-JMM 5 a done deal, says Arum

HAS MANNY Pacquiao  secretly agreed  to a rematch,  a fifth fight with arch nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez?

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum seems certain this will happen, despite the loud clamor of Manny’s kababayans for him to retire.

“Manny Pacquiao ain’t retiring. He will fight Juan Manuel Marquez for a fifth time,” Arum was quoted by TMZ Sports very recently.

Arum said the eight-division world champion is on vacation in Israel at the moment, “but when he gets back,  we’re gonna do another fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.”

If this happens and Arum is sure it will be next year, he believes the Pacman will be able to put up a better showing than he did in  the last one where he was KO’d face down.

“He ran into a really good right hand in the last fight. We’ll see what happens  next time,” Arum said.

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The other day, a PBA coach asked me  if coaches like him are now allowed to enter the court during a game.

“I know this is prohibited but I see Alaska  head coach Luigi Trillo doing it all the time, that’s why I wondered if the rule has been changed. Luigi practically lives inside the hard court, but his attention is not even called by the referees.

Luigi, the coach said, is the exact opposite  of the league’s  incredible hulk Yeng Guiao.

“Luigi is such a crybaby. He’s the biggest crybaby of the league,” said his colleague.

Yesterday, I checked  with  PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial if the  prohibition on entering the court has been relaxed.  He said the prohibition was reinforced in last Friday’s game where Trillo,  Alex Compton and  Dickie Bachmann, all of Alaska, were slapped a technical for entering the court.

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Though disappointed, sportsman Elmer Anuran of party list ALA-EH (Association of Local Athletics, Enterpreneurs and Hobbyists Inc.) heaved a sigh of relief when his petition for status quo ante was granted by the Supreme Court regarding the Comelec’s decision to deny his group accreditation.

Known for helping world-rated boxers Drian “Gintong Kamao” Francisco, Jun “Hercules” Doliguez and Al “Captain A” Sabaupan, the youthful Anuran expressed confidence that ALA-EH will be able to participate in the coming elections.

“ALA-EH seeks to help athletes, who aren’t being given the chance to develop and compete. We want to transform and develop the youth to become God-fearing, responsible and healthy citizens. Our group will nurture athletes and will also serve as a vehicle for their transformation from the grassroots to future world-beaters bringing honor to our country. ALA-EH will also serve as voice of the athletes as they seek their rightful place in the social spectrum.’”

Anuran, a Batangueño, said he can use his success in molding champion boxers in producing champion athletes in various sports. “As evidenced by the results of the country’s various campaigns in the international sporting arena, it’s clear that we now lag behind  our neighbors.”

“ALA-EH will speak and try to root out the evils confronting Pinoy sports,” he added.

Known for his simple ways, Anuran said he harbors no grudge against  the Comelec. “I always look ahead.”