MY good friend and colleague Atty. Renato Galleon has one minor complaint.
Utilizing his wit, which is just about as deadly as his perimeter jump shot, Atty. Galleon pulled no punches when he chastised the Last Round with this scathing rebuke: “When you are playing against us, your defense is very tight, tighter even than the national budget. But against the Pacquiaos, you only apply “posterizing” defense. What gives?”
Well if you must know, being out-of-shape can be a curse. I can only troll around the court and act menacing but my half-open mouth was a dead giveaway to my intended quarries.
But to be candid about it, I really couldn’t apply leech-like defense on either Bobby or Manny for fear of being called redundant-a leech and a lawyer essentially being perceived as one and the same. Hahaha!
LAST ROUNDERS REACT. As promised, here are some reactions from our Last Rounders on the subject of Manny playing basketball:
Theodore Zamora: “Goodwill games, exhibition games, sidewalk games…accidents can happen. We cannot prevent it but we can minimize it.
Basketball is a contact sport, and if you want to win, there’s a chance that you have to be very physical. But I guess you didn’t do that because of course, it’s like protecting a ‘National Treasure’.
Jeremy Elape: “I really am terrified of Manny playing hoops because I have had my share of ankle sprains playing hoops.
Honestly, I’d rather see him playing poker or pool. By doing that, he only loses money but not risk any injury.”
Rey Edward Vasquez: “That would be nice if it’s done without any fight schedule. Would it be possible if you guys can instead cancel any hoop games with the Pacman? This is to make sure he doesn’t get any injuries especially with his upcoming huge payday with Barrera. At least you could make a contribution by uniting in making him focus with his training.
Pacman is always nice to everyone especially the Media but we all want to see the Pacman climb the ring again. You are right to say that the Pacman could injure himself even if someone else is not causing it.”
DE LEON MOVES ON. While “Boom Boom” Bautista gets to go home and lick his wounds, WBO super bantamweight champion Ponce De Leon is already set to fight one Reynaldo Lopez (28-4-1, 19 KOs) as early as September 28th, just seven weeks removed from the Bautista fight.
Hate him or not, you have to admire a champion like de Leon. Nowadays, very rarely do we see champions fighting so often. The top fighters like Mayweather, and Hatton fight only twice a year. The Golden Boy and Hopkins are worse-sticking to one-fight-a-year schedules.
Back in the good old days, when matchmaking wasn’t so darn complicated, fighters would fight almost every month, or as soon as their injuries would allow them to. Hey Ponce, I hope you can squeeze Gerry Penalosa in your busy fight sked.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK. “Tell him to come and fight. I could be sick, cut or injured, but I’d still come to fight. The thing is he’s a &%* coward and he’s scared of me. He’s an embarrassment to Mexico. You are weak. You should hang up the gloves and get a regular job”
– Nicaraguan Ricardo Mayorga reacting to the postponement of his fight with “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas after the latter was diagnosed with anemia.
GOODBYE INDAY NITA. The Last Round tolls the bell for Nenita “Inday Nita” Daluz, mother of my good friend and companero, Councilor Jose “Joey” Daluz III.
When I was a young kid, I remember my parents glued intently to the radio, listening to one of her programs. Back then, everybody had something to say about the Marcos regime. But it was always refreshing to hear it from her, as it was innocent and unpretentious, shorn of any malice and salacious underpinnings.
LAST ROUND. It’s on my hardworking ‘kumare’ Atty. Euphemia “Eppie” Bacalso who is celebrating her birthday next week. Happy Birthday and cheers!
