AFTER AN auspicious showing in a Cebu 5-cocker recently, Manny Pacquiao is training his sights on a much bigger prize: The World Slasher Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Pacquiao?s trademark entry Pacman emerged with four wins against one defeat during sportsman Wakee Salud?s bigtime five-day derby in Mandaue.
Pacquiao said he won P500,000 during the cockfest and wants the sport?s most prestigious prize when he fields an entry in next month?s Slasher at the Big Dome.
“Dito sa Slasher ko gagamitin ang aking mga imported na manok,” Pacquiao told the Bulletin yesterday. “Mga island-born lamang ang aking ginamit sa Cebu. Sa tingin ko tamang-tama ang mga imported ko sa international derby sa isang buwan.”
“The Cebuanos treated Pacquiao very well and they enjoyed his company, too,” said Salud, who is one of the Queen City?s top cockfighting aficionados.
Pacquiao has also immersed himself heavily in billiards but cockfighting seems to be his choice of diversion the past several weeks.
During a recent visit to the States, Pacquiao, who narrowly lost to Erik Morales on March 19 in Las Vegas, brought prized roosters in Fresno, California.
Last month at the Pasay Cockpit Arena, Pacquiao shared top honors with four other derbymasters in a five-cocker, but did not fare well when he vied in Las Pi?as.
Later this month, Pacquiao, 26, is staging a derby in Koronadal (formerly Marbel), South Cotabato.
Pacquiao is not expected to return to the ring until September when Bob Arum stages a card featuring Morales. Arum is hoping that Morales and Pacquiao win their respective fights to heighten interest for their much-anticipated return meeting in December.
