Boxing fans who make it a habit to bash and criticize got one flush on the chin from the fighting election lawyer Romy Macalintal who recently took a swipe at detractors who insist Manny Pacquiao has lost his power after failing to floor or knock Timothy Bradley out in their Las Vegas rematch.
Macalintal, who knows what he?s talking about, said Pacquiao?s power hasn?t gone away. ?It was never lost,? he said. ?Manny just gained enough wisdom after that devastating fall from a lucky punch delivered by (Juan Manuel) Marquez. Thus, leading with overwhelming points from the judges against Bradley, Manny had to measure his moves and strategy to avoid committing the same mistake of being over-confident, knowing fully well that there is no rule in boxing that you have to knock down or knock out your opponent to win. To win by points without any question is enough.?
As far as Macalintal is concerned, a win is a win is a win. ?To knock down or knock out your vial is merely a bonus from heaven,? he went on. ?When Manny lost to Bradley in their first match, he remained humble yet exalted. In this return bout, the once exalted Bradley was humbled by Manny?s combined power and wisdom.?
Macalintal also lashed out at those who think Pacquiao needs to fight some more to raise funds for a Senate bid in 2016. Pacquiao recently signed a contract extension with Top Rank up to 2016 and Bob Arum said that would mean five more fights down the road ? one in November this year, two in 2015 and two in 2016. One of those fights may be against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
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?As an election lawyer, I can say without fear of contradiction that Manny does not need a single centavo to win a seat in the Senate,? said Macalintal. ?Anyone who approaches Manny for money to allegedly insure his victory for Senator does not know his election in the Philippines or just wants money from Manny. Manny is a shoo-in for the Senate. He could even top the Senate race, there being 12 candidates to be voted for. Voters may have a hard time remembering the names of 12 candidates but Manny?s name recall is enough to make him win and top the polls.? Dean’s Corner ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Macalintal said Pacquiao will be an asset in any senatorial ticket. ?Political leaders would be very glad to have him in their campaign sorties that they would even spend millions of campaign funds to have Manny during the campaign period,? he pointed out.
Macalintal said whatever purses Pacquiao will earn from his future fights shouldn?t be appropriated for any election expenses. ?That is, if he intends to run for the Senate where he shouldn?t have to spend a single centavo to win,? he continued. ?If he runs for a local position, like being a Congressman where the fight is one-on-one, then that is another story. Senator Manny or Congressman Manny? He knows better with his combined wisdom and power.?
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Last Monday, the Senate approved on third and final reading the bill introduced by Sen. Sonny Angara to confer Philippine citizenship on Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche by naturalization. Now, the local basketball community is awaiting the passage of the law as soon as it?s signed by President Aquino. If the Chief Executive opts not to sign it, the measure will lapse into law within 30 days. If President Aquino signs it, the measure will become a law immediately.
The process of Blatche?s naturalization by legislation traces its roots to the House of Representatives where Rep. Robbie Puno authored the bill. It went through the Committee on Justice for hearings and endorsement before submission to the House for first up to third reading. As in a basketball game, it took teamwork for the bill to go through the process in both the House and Senate without delay.
Curiously, a similar bill proposing naturalization for long-time Angeles City resident Bruce McTavish, a native New Zealander married to Carmen Tayag, was on the same agenda as Blatche in a Committee on Justice hearing at the House of Representatives last March. While Blatche?s naturalization papers are now awaiting President Aquino?s signature at Malacanang, the bill on McTavish is still on second reading at the House. McTavish will still wait for the Senate to go over his papers after his bill is passed by the House.
Angara thanked Senate President Sen. Franklin Drilon, Senate Committee on Justice chairman Sen. Koko Pimentel, Majority Floor Leader Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Sens. Tito Sotto and Jinggoy Estrada for their support to fast-track the Blatche bill. ?This was a total team effort,? said Angara. ?Credit is due to both the majority and minority blocs for supporting this measure which to my mind, is the Senate?s own way to contributing to the cause of our basketball team. Having naturalized players is the rule in international competitions rather than the exception. It?s very accepted. We are just taking advantage of the rule.?
Blatche isn?t the first foreign athlete to be naturalized in order to gain eligibility to compete with the national team. In 1983, Jeff Moore and Dennis Still were naturalized and played on the Philippine team that won the FIBA Asia title in Kuala Lumpur in 1986. At that time, FIBA allowed a country to recruit up to two naturalized players with a three-year residence requirement. Another player Chip Engelland was naturalized in 1984 and would?ve been eligible to play for the Philippine team in 1987 but the basketball program took a different course in the wake of the EDSA Revolution. Today, FIBA permits only one naturalized player in a national team but no longer stipulates a residency rule.
