Category: - Radyo Natin FM 105.5 Bais City, Negros Oriental

Arum warns Pacquiao of 'tough fight'

5/10/2012

Bob Arum had been to both camps, watching the fighters in training. There’s Manny Pacquiao on one side, and Timothy Bradley on the other. On June 9 they slug it out for the former’s WBO welterweight crown.

Pacquiao is Arum’s cash cow, the apple of his eyes. No wonder he’s issuing this warning, so he won’t be blamed later for not doing it at all.

“Manny better be ready,” Arum told The STAR over the phone.

“Bradley is in such great, great shape,” added the chief of Top Rank which owns the promotional rights over Pacquiao and Bradley.

It’s not that Pacquiao’s isn’t ready or he’s not doing what it takes for him to be ready. Arum is simply saying that Bradley is no pushover.

“It’s going to be a tough fight,” he added.

It’s not a tough fight at all if you look at the odds, swaying at 3-1 or a little over, for the 33-year-old fighting superstar from the Philippines.

But Arum believes that anything can happen on June 9 at the MGM Grand, and he’s making sure Pacquiao is reminded of what he’s up against.

Bradley at 5’6” is an inch shorter than Pacquiao, but at 28 is five years younger.

Bradley, who looks more like a bodybuilder, carries a perfect record of 28-0 with only a dozen knockouts. Pacquiao is at 54-3-2 with 38 knockouts but none in his last four fights.

“Believe me, it’s not going to be easy,” Arum said.

Meanwhile, the highly-awaited rematch between IBF and WBA junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson and Amir Khan on May 19 is off.

Peterson, who took the titles away from Khan with a controversial decision last December, just failed a doping test, and should be stripped of the titles.

Khan was surprised with the development, and is in fact hoping to get a fight with someone else later in June. He was in Baguio training under Freddie Roach last month. (www.philstar.com)

Filipinos: Boxing like a boss

5/2/2012

There are remarkable instances in Philippine history when criminals take a timeout, rebels and soldiers lay their guns down, and the traffic in EDSA dissipates for a while. These are simultaneous, prescheduled moments, when every household tunes in to the TV set, when mall-goers occupy the cinemas, when peddlers and passersby crowd in front of outdoor LED displays, all holding their breath in anticipation of the most awaited match of the year.

“Let’s get ready to rumbleeee!”

The bell rings, the first round begins, and the rest would be written in boxing history.

This is what happens when pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao fights.

The moment he steps onto the ring, Filipinos from all walks of life drop everything to watch, cheer, and celebrate.

After a winning bout, Pacquiao’s face is plastered all over the papers. His victory is broadcast on the news for weeks.

Legions of adoring supporters endure the afternoon heat to applaud him at his victory motorcades. Public officials offer him cash gifts, congratulating him on a job well done.

Filipinos have been in love with boxing since time immemorial -– and Pacquiao’s back-to-back achievements are constant reminders of the fact that ever since boxing has graced local rings, Filipinos have always been exceptionally good at it. (www.rappler.com)

DepEd implements strict screening of athletes

5/1/2012

The National Screening and Accreditation Committee (NSAC) has started the screening and accreditation process for the athletes who will participate in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa last Saturday, April 28. Through the mandate of the Department of Education, NSAC will evaluate and verify the authenticity of the documents of the athletes, coaches, and chaperons as soon as the regional delegations arrive at their assigned quarters.

NSAC will also accredit qualified participants and formulate ground rules not covered by the guidelines on eligibility, as states in the DepEd Memorandum No. 75 s. 2012.

The strict screening process will ensure fairness and honesty in the upcoming games.

Palarong Pambansa 2012 Secretary-General Tonisito Umali emphasizes the importance of the screening process.

“We are strictly following the rules and guidelines for the screening process and accreditation to make sure that the Palaro will be free from controversy,” Umali said.

The committee is composed of 25 members. Eight of the members come from the Department of Education Central Office while the rest are made up of an authorized representative from each of the 17 participating regions.

Other qualifications

Before qualifying for the Palarong Pambansa, athletes must be elementary or secondary Filipino students from public and private schools.

They must have participated in their respective Division and Regional meets.

Elementary and secondary athletes are only allowed to play in the elementary and secondary division, respectively. Overage athletes will not be allowed to compete. However, overage elementary athletes will be allowed to compete for the secondary division.

Given that the DepEd also aims for holistic formation for the athletes, academics are also taken into consideration.

Athletes who acquire two failing marks in more than two core subjects during the second grading period will be disqualified.

Athletes who are currently or who had been part of the National Team, the National Training Pool or the Development Pool and are receiving stipend from the Philippine Sports Commission will not be allowed to compete.

Those who have competed in the SEA Games, ASEAN Games and/ or Olympic games will also be prohibited from participating.

Replacements for disqualified athletes will be considered by NSAC until May 3, the end of the screening and accreditation process.

The Palarong Pambansa will be held from May 6-12, 2012 in Lingayen, Pangasinan. (www.rappler.com)

NBA: First win costly as Bulls lose Rose for playoffs

4/30/2012

The Chicago Bulls opened the NBA playoffs with a costly victory as they lost reigning Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose to a left knee injury for the remainder of the post-season on Saturday, April 28 (Sunday, April 29 in Manila). Rose tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the waning seconds of Chicago's 103-91 triumph over Philadelphia in the opening game of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series.

The NBA playoff opener proved to be the farewell for Rose, who is almost certainly assured of missing the London Olympics as well. The Americans will be trying to defend their 2008 gold medal and Rose would have been a key player.

Rose scored 23 points and added nine rebounds and nine assists in helping the Bulls seize a huge lead late against the 76ers but coach Tom Thibodeau opted to keep Rose in the lopsided game, unhappy at how the Bulls were playing.

"A guy can get hurt any time. You have to deal with it," Thibodeau said. "The score was going the other way. We weren't closing the game out the right way."

In another East opener, the Miami Heat beat New York 100-67 behind 32 points from LeBron James. The visiting Knicks made 27 turnovers and matched their lowest one-game point total in playoff history.

"I was happy I was able to attack," said James, who shot 10-of-14 from the field and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line. "I'm just trying to be in attack mode throughout these games."

Already underdogs, the Knicks also suffered a painful loss as guard Iman Shumpert sustained a torn left knee ligament that will also keep him out the rest of the campaign.

Elsewhere in the East, the Orlando Magic scored the last 11 points en route to an 81-77 victory over the Indiana Pacers at Indianapolis.

The Magic, without three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard after his back surgery, nevertheless held the Pacers without a point in the last four minutes of the contest.

But the shocker of the day was the Bulls, whose 50-win season gave them a home-court edge throughout the playoffs, losing Rose, who missed 27 games this season with various injuries.

With 1:20 remaining, Rose planted his feet for a jump shot and his left knee buckled. Rose jumped but passed the ball off to a teammate and used his hands to land carefully, then lowered himself onto the court and rolled onto his back.

Grimacing as he grabbed his knee, Rose lay on the court while being examined by a trainer then was helped up and off the court to the locker room.

Fans briefly chanted "M-V-P" as Rose got up but most were shocked and even teammates were wide-eyed as they watched their top playmaker hobble off.

"At first it's kind of scary for everybody, not just us, the whole city of Chicago," Bulls starter Richard Hamilton said. "My heart kind of dropped."

Hamilton backed Thibodeau's decision to keep Rose on the court in the final minutes.

"In playoff basketball, you never want to give a team confidence," Hamilton said. "If you have a team down, you have to try to keep them down."

Added teammate Taj Gibson: "He wanted to be in the game. We wanted to send a strong message."

Rose, who was 9-of-23 from the field, had missed 12 games this season for a groin injury and five games each for back, toe and ankle problems.

The Bulls went 18-9 without him and 32-7 with him in the lineup and that time with Rose sidelined has allowed the rest of the roster to have faith in those who will take his place now.

Joakim Noah voiced both concern for Rose and determination that his absence won't derail the Bulls' playoff bid.

"I consider Derrick a little brother and to see him hurting is never good," Noah said, then added: "We're a team, you know?

"We play tough basketball, good defense. Regardless of what happens, we're a capable group."

Rose had missed only three games in six years until this season, when the league wedged 66 games into four months after the season was shortened due to a money dispute between club owners and players that was settled last November. (www.rappler.com)

Pacquiao mixes boxing and faith

4/22/2012

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has combined his new-found faith with his training for an upcoming fight, holding bible-reading sessions after daily workouts.

The 33-year-old Pacquiao, who faces unbeaten American Timothy Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas, said he would also follow up his fight with a "preaching session" at one of the country's biggest coliseums.

"It is open to all religions," he told reporters late Saturday, April 21, in the mountainous resort city where he began altitude training last week.

Pacquiao, formerly known for enjoying late-night parties and gambling, now ends almost every training day with a bible session in an auditorium in the hotel which serves as his training camp.

These sessions, which can go for over two hours, have attracted scores of people who come to see the boxing hero ask religious questions and quote from the bible.

American boxing promoter Bob Arum who handles Pacquiao's fights, said he preferred this more devout fighter to the one who used to drink and gamble long into the night.

"It is much better than the things he did in the past," said Arum in a telephone interview on Sunday.

Earlier this year, Pacquiao, regarded by many in the sport as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, announced he had undergone a religious conversion and was giving up all of his vices.

As well as holding bible-reading sessions with the country's top broadcasting officials, Pacquiao has also carried out his duties as an elected legislator and host of a popular television gameshow.

However he has insisted that his faith has not affected his fighting skills which have made him an eight-time world champion with a record of 54-3 with two draws. (www.rappler.com)

PH Volcanoes to Filipinos: Try playing rugby

4/17/2012

Beyond a thank you, the Philippine Volcanoes want to see more Filipinos playing the sport of rugby. The men's Philippine rugby team captain Michael Letts encourages Filipinos to try out the game.

"It doesn't matter what size you are, there's a position for you," said Letts in a post-match press conference after their Asian 5 Nations Division I win against Singapore.

"Because Filipinos are skillful and they're fast, rugby is a great sport for them to adapt to," he added.

The captain also thanked Filipinos for their support.

The Philippine Volcanoes hosts free sessions to anyone interested in learning and playing the sport. The team plays Chinese Taipei on Wednesday, April 18 and Sri Lanka on Saturday, April 21. (www.rappler.com)

Philippines shines, overwhelms Pakistan in Davis Cup tie

4/9/2012

Another win for the Philippines in the regional Davis Cup.

On Sunday, April 8, the Philippines sealed the deal, after it outclassed Pakistan in the 2nd round of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group II tie 5-0 to advance to the 3rd round.

Filipino tennis players Francis Casey Alcantara and Johnny Arcilla defeated their respective opponents, sweeping the Pakistan team with ease.

Alcantara overpowered Muhammad Abid, 6-2, 6-1, and Arcilla knocked down his counterpart Yasir Khan, 6-3, 6-4 in reverse singles matches.

Two days earlier, Arcilla also defeated Pakistani national champion Ageel Khan 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, while Treat Huey outplayed Yasir Khan 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 in singles matches.

Huey and Ruben Gonzales gave the Philippines' the 3-0 that secured the country's victory the next day, scoring a win over the Khan brothers, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in doubles competition.

The tie, held in the Philippine Columbian Association tennis courts in Paco, Manila, started Friday, April 6, simultaneous with all the other Davis Cup matches around the globe. The Asia/Oceania zone is one of three zones where regional 2012 Davis Cup competitions are held.

Pakistan came to Manila without top bet Aisam-ul-Haq who pulled out of the Davis Cup delegation last month, to nurse a chronic knee injury.

The Philippines also defeated Pacific Oceania 5-0 in February before it faced off with Pakistan. It will next meet Indonesia on September 14-16. The winner will be promoted to Group I in 2013.

The 22-year-old Davis Cup is the largest annual international tennis team competition in the world. (www.rapller.com)

Mayweather-Pacquiao, not this year - Arum

4/8/2012

The much-awaited mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao by the end of 2012?

Don't count on it.

“I have to be realistic about this,” Top Rank chief Bob Arum told Boxing Scene. “I don’t think that Mayweather will be available in the fall to fight Manny. He certainly doesn’t indicate that he wants to fight him now. I would think, probably, everybody would be better off if we thought about that fight [for] next year. But everything is open."

Negotiations for the fight, expected to be the highest-grossing bout in the history of the sport, have been ongoing now for years but have fallen through due to disagreements on drug testing. Most recently, the 2 fighters reportedly spoke to each other but ultimately could not find a compromise on purse split.

Mayweather wanted more than half of the earnings, but Pacquiao disagreed. Because of the failed negotiations, Mayweather is instead scheduled to face Miguel Cotto on May 5, while Pacquiao will meet American boxer Timothy Bradley on June 9.

Need to happen

Pacquiao had said last month that he is willing to take a smaller purse, which raised hopes on the bout possibly happening in November this year, but Arum's recent statements contradicted the expectations.

Boxing fans and analysts alike have anticipated the fight, but because it has not materialized, it has sparked controversy among fight experts on who deserves to be on the pound-for-pound list's No.1 spot, considering that the 2 have yet to meet in the ring. (www.rappler.com)

Lin has successful surgery

4/3/2012

New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin just had a surgery today on his injured left knee. In his twitter account, the Harvard University standout said, "Praise God for a successful surgery…road to recovery! Lets goo. Much love to fans for your support and kind words."

Lin suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of a lopsided Knicks victory over the Detroit Pistons at the Madison Square Garden. Knicks' All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire also suffered an injury in that game.

The burden of getting the Knicks' to the playoffs now falls on All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony as he is now the lone bonafide star in New York's roster.

Lin thanks his fans for all the love and support and remains hopeful that the Knicks will make the playoffs this year, "Thanks for all the love! I'll return from surgery stronger and better than before… and hopefully in time for the playoffs!", he writes on his Facebook page.

ted 04/03/2012 5:48 PM 1 MANILA, Philippines - New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin just had a surgery today on his injured left knee. In his twitter account, the Harvard University standout said, "Praise God for a successful surgery…road to recovery! Lets goo. Much love to fans for your support and kind words."

Lin suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of a lopsided Knicks victory over the Detroit Pistons at the Madison Square Garden. Knicks' All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire also suffered an injury in that game.

The burden of getting the Knicks' to the playoffs now falls on All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony as he is now the lone bonafide star in New York's roster.

Lin thanks his fans for all the love and support and remains hopeful that the Knicks will make the playoffs this year, "Thanks for all the love! I'll return from surgery stronger and better than before… and hopefully in time for the playoffs!", he writes on his Facebook page.

Lin, who put together a string of impressive performances in February which resulted to a 7-game win-streak for New York, is averaging 14.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 35 games with the Knicks this season. - (www.rappler.com)

Donaire and his limitless future

4/1/2012

MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire in recent years has emerged as one of the brightest stars of the sport of boxing, gaining not only recognition in the Philippines but also in the entire world.

Donaire stood out amidst a pool of talent with scintillating victories recorded over the biggest names in boxing.

He holds a win streak which has now risen to 27 in a row including a resounding 5th roundknockout over Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan in 2007, and a sizzling 2nd round destruction of Fernando “KO Chulito” Montiel early last year.

Both Darchinyan and Montiel were world champions generally considered to be among the elite at the time Donaire fought them.

The victories over Darchinyan and Montiel both won “Knockout of the Year” awards from Ring Magazine, widely known as the ‘Bible of Boxing’, due to the nature in which Donaire won the bouts.

Signature punch

In the Darchinyan fight, Donaire decked the Armenian with a perfectly timed counter.

Just as Darchinyan was loading up for a power shot, Donaire unleashed a textbook left hook to the jaw that sent his foe to the floor.

Darchinyan, on shaky legs, struggled to rise to his feet and could not beat the ten count.

A similar fate met Fernando Montiel in 2011.

Donaire landed a counter left hook to the temple in what he described as ‘the hardest punch he ever threw’.

The trajectory of his fist which he twisted into the punch providing maximum impact and torque, landed with unbelievable force.

Donaire actually broke his hand with that amazing shot and in a brief moment of worry, Montiel was left writhing on the canvas, his body twitching while trying to regain his senses.

The left hook has become Donaire’s signature punch, his main offensive weapon, but it is not his most valuable asset.

A student of the sweet science

Nonito Donaire regards himself as a student of the sweet science.

Perhaps more impressive than his chilling knockout power or his blazing fast quickness is his ability to understand the science and intricacies of pugilism.

His ability to ‘read’ an opponent’s offense and time them perfectly with counters -- coupled with his ability to decipher a tight defense to create openings -- is what sets Donaire up for exciting finishes.

Apart from his god-given athleticism, his most valuable asset is mastery of the sport’s scientific aspect.

This combination of precise technique and one-punch knockout power leaves boxing experts and fans alike, mesmerized at the fighter’s limitless potential.

In fact, most have him in the top five overall best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

‘The Filipino Flash’ has been carving a path of destruction without a loss since 2001 – and there seems to be no one in the lower weight divisions to present a stiff challenge, hence the need to explore the heavier classes.

Endless possibilities

A few months ago, Donaire tore apart a game Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in his 122 lb. debut.

He popped a vein in his left hand as he was trying to land his money shot, leaving his gloves and wraps in a bloody mess.

Vazquez, generally considered to be one of the top Super Bantamweights in the world, was expected to be a tough test for Donaire yet was completely outclassed by the crafty Filipino.

Vazquez was certainly no pushover but Donaire picked him apart with relative ease, visibly rocking the Puerto Rican on numerous occasions and also knocking him down in the 9th round for the first time in his career via a beautiful left-uppercut left-hook combination – another display of Donaire’s superior skillset.

Donaire is rumored to face toughman Jorge “Travieso” Arce of Mexico later this fall, a bout which Bob Arum is lobbying to take place in the newly built Mall of Asia Coliseum.

Arce is known as an all-action brawler who’s never in a boring fight. A Donaire-Arce fight in the Philippines would be a huge attraction.

At the moment however, Donaire is scheduled to make his ring return on June 16th against former Super Flyweight Champion Christian Mijares.

Mijares was once one of the sport’s rising young stars until he got wrecked by Vic Darchinyan.

Critics early on predict that Mijares would be no match for the more well-rounded Donaire, but Mijares has solid boxing skills and loads of experience. He does bring speed and technique to the table.

The matchup will put two ‘thinking fighters’ in the ring together; not exactly brawlers, so fans can expect a tactical matchup. Donaire has the edge early on but Mijares will be a good test for the Filipino champ.

Donaire has also recently been called out by Featherweight Champion Orland Salido and Super Bantamweight Champion Toshiaki Nishioka.

Both have expressed their intent to face Donaire.

Now that Manny Pacquiao is contemplating retirement, Donaire is in the perfect position to take his place as the nation’s boxing icon.

Indeed, the future holds endless possibilities for the ‘Filipino Flash’. - (www.rappler.com)