We polled the 25 winners of our recent Christmas contest on whom they prefer Manny Pacquiao to fight next and which team they think will win the PBA Philippine Cup. The results indicated no clear consensus.
Juan Manuel Marquez was the choice of 10 while Timothy Bradley came second with nine. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was third with six. Rain Or Shine was the pick of eight winners with Talk ?N? Text selected by seven, San Mig Coffee five, Alaska four and Barangay Ginebra (out of the semifinals) one.
Bernard Perico, a Pioneer Life messenger of Pasay City, said he?d like Pacquiao to regain his WBO welterweight title from Bradley then defend it against Marquez in a fifth meeting. He chose San Mig Coffee to capture the Philippine Cup title because of the Mixers? deep lineup. Perico said San Mig Coffee is deadliest when coach Tim Cone plays James Yap, P. J. Simon and Mark Barroca at the same time.
Sean Santiago, a 15-year-old student of Sta. Lucia High School in Novaliches, said Pacquiao should face Marquez ?to redeem himself from that shocking defeat? and picked Alaska to bag the PBA crown because ?they?re very solid in all positions with the entry of (Calvin) Abueva.?
Gracia Aran, a 42-year-old housewife from Binangonan, Rizal, said she?s looking forward to Pacquiao fighting Marquez to find out if it was a lucky or a perfect punch that landed in their fourth encounter. She picked San Mig Coffee to win because the Mixers can beat any team in the semifinals and besides, they?re her children?s favorite.
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Ferdinand Agida of Rosario, Pasig, said, ?Manny should fight Bradley to avenge his controversial loss ? this is the best available fight for Manny who?s looking to bounce back and regain his confidence after that stunning defeat to Marquez?we all know that Manny won that fight and the moment he faces Bradley, he?ll surely go for the kill and reclaim his lost glory.? He picked Rain Or Shine to win because of the Painters? depth, resiliency, unpredictability and rugged style of play. ?With Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, the Extra Rice Inc. and coach Yeng Guiao leading the way, expect Rain Or Shine to go all the way.?
Hilton Arevalo of Kingstown Subdivision, Caloocan City, said he prefers Bradley next for Pacquiao. ?It?s a good tune-up fight for Manny and also to prove that he can really beat Bradley,? he said. ?I think Rain Or Shine will win the PBA Philippine Cup, they?re young and hungry plus they?ve got Yeng Guiao.?
Raymundo Mendoza, a 61-year-old professor of UP Los Ba?os, said, ?I prefer Manny to fight Marquez next because I believe Manny is still the better boxer, his loss to Marquez was just an accident.? He chose Alaska to win the PBA title because ?the desire to recapture the great tradition of winning championships runs in the blood of the Aces.?
Maximo Pascua, a 39-year-old registered electrical engineer from Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, said ?I still prefer Manny to rest at least six to nine months then challenge Floyd Mayweather because fighting and defeating Pretty Boy Floyd is better to enhance Pacquiao?s legacy than a knockout of Marquez in a possible fifth fight.? He added, ?I like the chances of my favorite team, San Mig Coffee ? they have one of the best coaches in the league and some of the best offensive and defensive players in the league.?
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Julius Nonato, a 47-year-old OFW from Multinational Village, Para?aque, said, ?I prefer Bradley as Pacquiao?s next opponent because their last fight was controversial and also Bradley owns a belt that Pacquiao can grab.? He chose Talk ?N? Text to win because ?they have a great coach (Norman Black) and a deep bench.?
Emelita Cinco, a 55-year-old NGO employee of Golden Hills Subdivision, Deparo, Novaliches, said Pacquiao should fight Mayweather ?to settle once and for all who is truly the better boxer? and picked Talk ?N? Text to win the PBA title because ?they have the best lineup, they?ve kept the lineup intact the past two years with the same players who successfully defended the All-Filipino crown last year.?
Cecilio Campano, a planning officer of Lacson Street, Tondo, said Marquez should be Pacquiao?s next opponent because ?fans want to watch the fifth installment of their rivalry? and picked Alaska ?to prove to themselves that they can still win championships even without coach Tim Cone.?
Victor de Vera, a 35-year-old employee of Marikina City, said, ?I prefer Manny to fight Marquez because I want him to bring back the honor to the country and show the boxing world that he is the true pound-for-pound king and if he chooses to retire, he would be on top and the rest is history.? He chose Talk ?N? Text to win the PBA crown because of its championship experience. ?Composure is the key factor in winning championships,? he said. ?With TNT?s maturity on the floor, any team they face in the Finals will have a hard time.?
More in tomorrow?s column.
