The Wutz Up in the Philippines!

After Clottey, Pacquiao fans want Mayweather next

ARLINGTON, TEXAS—Before one of the largest indoor crowds in modern US ring history, Manny Pacquiao Sunday dominated a strangely gun-shy Joshua Clottey, outpunching him from bell to bell, to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title.
The ease with which Pacquiao outclassed Clottey over 12 rounds—at times, the Filipino looked as if he were simply working up a sweat in a sparring session—left many fans and experts hankering for a once-in-a-lifetime fight between him and the undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“We are ready to fight him (Mayweather) any time,” The New York Times quoted Pacquiao as saying. “I don’t think he’s ready to fight.”

“I want that fight, the world wants that fight, but it’s up to him,” Pacquiao said after the one-sided match on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).

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Due to brownout threats, power generators will gain prominence in the country as the Filipino boxing champ Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao steps into the ring to face Joshua Clottey in the United States this Sunday (Manila time).

A report on dzBB radio on Friday said many local governments, including those in Metro Manila, are setting up generators in preparation for possible brownouts.

In Manila’s Tondo district, the report said the city government arranged for generators to be installed at the Tondo Sports Complex where the bout will be shown for free.

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DALLAS, TEXAS—Filipino ring king Manny Pacquiao said his lightning fast speed would be enough to nullify Joshua Clottey’s size advantage when the two meet here in Texas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

“My quickness will be the key, my speed,” the seven-time world champion told Reuters as he prepared for a public workout in front of a throng of fans.

However, the WBO welterweight champion is not taking his Ghanaian opponent lightly.

“You cannot underestimate Joshua Clottey,” he said. “He’s a good fighter, and he’s bigger than me, and I have to be very focused in the fight.”

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HOLLYWOOD – Manny Pacquiao turned on the heat inside the gym Saturday as the temperature dropped outside.

He sparred for six rounds against Abdulla Amidu and Dave Rodela. He worked so hard. He moved so well. He looked sharp.

Trainer Freddie Roach was so impressed he shortened Joshua Clottey’s lifespan on the ring by a couple more rounds as the March 13 fight at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas neared.

A month ago, Roach said he’d be happy if Pacquiao wins by decision. Then last Thursday, he said Pacquiao should knock out Cottey inside nine rounds, but he’d be happier if the fight ends right in the opening round.

Thursday, he said Clottey should be gone in six or seven rounds.

“It will not go the distance,” he repeated.

“He’s (Clottey) gonna last (only) six or seven rounds. He’s going to be overwhelmed with the punches. He’s never been attacked like this before,” said Roach after they raised the total number of sparring to 138 rounds.

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Alaska out to prove history; SMB seeks 3-1 lead

MANILA, Philippines—Alaska tries to put Ginebra to the sword and book a return ticket to the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup finals in Game 4 of their best-of-seven semifinal series Wednesday night at the Big Dome.

The Aces, losing finalists to Talk ‘N Text last year, are in total command of the series, 3-0, but the Gin Kings exposed chinks in Alaska’s armor in Game 3 when they nearly overcame a 23-point deficit in the final quarter before bowing, 91-88.

Gametime is 7:30 p.m. with Alaska coach Tim Cone still wary of a Ginebra fightback despite the fact that no team in league history had won a series after going 0-3 down.

“We know we can’t let our guard down, certainly not against a team like Ginebra,” said Cone.

“It will be reinforced to us by that comeback and hopefully that will get us ready for Game 4.”

San Miguel shoots for a 3-1 lead in its own series with Purefoods at 5 p.m.

The Beermen broke the 1-1 tie Sunday night with an 88-76 win.

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MANILA, Philippines - Not even Freddie Roach’s statement that he sees the fight going the distance could keep the fight odds from sky-rocketing in favor of Manny Pacquiao.

The other day, the four-time Trainer of the Year told fightfan.com that he’s not looking for a knockout. Instead, he said he sees a 12-round battle with Joshua Clottey.

But no one seemed to listen as oddsmakers for the March 13 showdown at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas remained convinced it’s going to be one-sided.

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FOR ALASKA COACH TIM CONE, the best-of-seven semifinal series against Ginebra actually starts with Game 2 Friday.

“They’ll take a deep breath and we’ll start the series on Game 2,” Cone said, referring to the battle-weary Gin Kings, who were soundly beaten at every department by the Aces in a 104-79 victory in Game 1 Wednesday night.

Cone expects Ginebra to regroup and give the Aces a tougher time when they clash at 7:30 p.m. as action in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup shifts to the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

San Miguel will also shoot for a 2-0 lead in its own series with Purefoods at 5 p.m.

Ginebra is coming off an emotional five-game quarterfinal series with Talk ‘N Text and the Gin Kings showed little spunk in Game 1, enabling the Aces to dominate the boards, 59-40, and score heavily inside the paint.

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Team Philippines proved too classy for Russia as the Filipinos carved out a masterful 4-1 win and claimed the first finals berth in the 1st World Team Pool Championship Saturday in the Hannover, Germany.

After the tandem of former double world champion Ronnie Alcano and Marlon Manalo dropped the first match of the day, 3-6, in the 8-ball Scotch doubles, the Filipinos struck hard and dominated the next four matches with Alcano icing the sweet victory with a 7-1 thumping of Ruslan Chinahov in the 10-ball play.

“Parang panggising yung talo namin ni Marlon sa 8-ball Scotch Doubles,” the Calamba, Laguna native Alcano said. “Hindi ka talaga pwedeng maging over confident sa ganito kalaking event. Kahit sino pwede kang talunin.”

With the victory, the Philippines is now assured of $50,000 (P2.3 million) and will next face powerhouse Great Britain, which booted out Greece, 4-2, in the other semifinal pairing. The champion team gets the top purse of $100,000.

The British team is bannered by former 9-ball champion Daryl Peach and former world 10-ball champion Darren Appleton.

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A 15-year-old student beat 21 other contenders to become the country’s Sudoku Grandmaster in the 4th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge finals, held Saturday.

Sarah Jane Cua, a 3rd-year high school student of the Pangasinan Universal Institute, won the title after garnering the highest number of points in the Grandmaster division, a statement from the Mathematics Trainers Guild (MTG) said.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of contest organizer MTG-Philippines, said 118 students and professionals joined the contest in 3 categories: Sudoku Whiz Kid, Sudoku Wizard and Sudoku Grandmaster.

In the Grandmaster division, Cua garnered 1,601 points from 5 rounds to win the title and went home with P60,000 in cash prize and a trophy, the MTG said.

Other winners are Matthew Chris Chan (Manila), first runner-up; Mariel Alexis Dee (Metro Manila), second runner-up; Jayhan Regner (Cagayan de Oro City), third runner-up; and Frederick Ong (Bacolod City), fourth runner-up.

Cua is the reigning champion in the Grandmaster division. In 2008, she represented the Philippines and won the grand prize in the Brand’s Asia Pacific Open Sudoku contest held in Singapore.

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Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante expect a tough grind when they spearhead the Asian charge in the Asia vs Europe Men’s 9-Ball Team Challenge that starts this Friday at the Sutra Hall, Rizqun International Hotel in Brunei.

Reyes said beating their rivals will be a tall order since they lack of time to practice with their teammates.

“It will be a very tough match against the top European players. The Europeans are a very solid team and I still don’t know much about my teammates from Taiwan and Brunei,” the 55-year-old Reyes told a local newspaper upon their arrival in Brunei.

Bustamante agreed with his long-time buddy.

“We are expecting tough matches but we will try our best to beat the Europeans who are very young and strong,” said Bustamante, who will play for the first time in the former English colony.

Reyes and Bustamante, whose successful partnership earned them a second World Cup of Pool title in Manila last year, will be joined by host’s Teo Chee Soon and Taiwanese Ko Pin Yi and Lu Hui Chan in the World Pool Billiards-Association-sanctioned event that stakes a total cash prize of $45,000 (P2.1 million).

“We will need a lot of luck if we are to upset the Europeans. In 9-ball pool, luck is important,” added the former double world champion Reyes, who will be playing for the third time in Brunei.

Reyes had earlier competed in the 1999 Brunei Southeast Asian Games and the Brunei Invitational 9-ball Pool Championship four years ago.

Team Europe is made up of World no. 2 Ralf Souquet of Germany, Darren Appleton and Imran Majid of England, Ruslan Chinahov of Russia and Nick Van Den Berg of Holland.

Both teams will play 15 matches  five double and 10 single events  with the squad piling up the highest number of won match at the end of competition be declared the team champion.

Every double event and single event won by each team is equivalent to one point with doubles event enforcing a Scotch doubles format.

The champion team bags $27,000 (P1.2 million), runner-up team $13,000 (P624,000) and single match winner $5,000 (P240,000). (Tempo Sports)