Donaire will bounce back, says Palace

Nonito Donaire Jr.

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said on Sunday that Filipinos would continue to root for fallen champion Nonito Donaire Jr.

and that his return to glory would be a source of motivation.

“Nonito Donaire Jr. might have failed in his quest to unite the WBO and WBA super bantamweight titles but the support of our countrymen in our ‘Filipino Flash’ remains unabated,” deputy press spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement.

“The entire country continues to have faith in the rise and return of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s 2012 Fighter of the Year to serve as inspiration for his millions of countrymen and supporters,” Valte added.

In Legazpi City, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said Donaire’s defeat was a clear manifestation of the need for adequate public investments in sports development.

“The proof of the pudding is in the pounding – government should invest more in sport development if we want to see a golden era in Philippine boxing,” Salceda said.

“Now, that the season of harvest has passed, a season to regenerate is upon us,” he added. “Even if we assume the Filipino race has the genes, the question is where is the grassroots program to discover and develop it.”