WBC lightweight champion David Diaz said he knows boxing isn?t a forever career so he?s out to make the most out of the situation now. Manny Pacquiao is his stepping stone to a comfortable life where he?ll be financially stable. Diaz said his inspiration is wife Tanya ? whom he married five years ago ? and their two sons David Anselmo, 3, and Elias Armando, 1.
Diaz stakes his crown against Pacquiao at the Mandalay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on June 28.
After boxing, Diaz plans to make a living in real estate. ?I?m going to try to be Donald Trump,? he said. ?I?m getting old and I don?t know how long I?ll be in this sport.?
Diaz turns 32 tomorrow and the 1996 Atlanta Olympian realizes there are younger, hungrier fighters emerging to take over from the ?fading? generation.
A decisive loss to Pacquiao could mean curtains for Diaz? fistic career. It will mean relinquishing the WBC title and the chance to earn big bucks. He?ll be relegated to the ranks of the forgettables.
If Diaz has everything to gain in beating Pacquiao, he?s got everything to lose, too, in a defeat.
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PBA legend Johnny Abarrientos, now a Barangay Ginebra assistant coach, is itching to return to action.
?I think I?m still good for 10 to 15 minutes a game,? said the 37-year-old guard from Far Eastern University. ?I practice every day with Ginebra so I?m in shape. I know retirement is coming and I can accept that. But I?m hoping to play one more year before retiring.?
Abarrientos revealed that his former team Alaska is offering to take him back as a player.
?Jolas (Lastimosa) called me about playing,? said the Flying A. ?It would be nice to end up playing for my first team but I?m worried about the future. There?s no spot left in the Alaska coaching staff because they?ve already got Joel Banal, Bobby Bachmann, Luigi Trillo, Jolas and Bong Hawkins. Ginebra has been good to me and I?m already in the coaching staff. I don?t make suggestions directly to coach Jong (Uichico). I go through coaches Allan (Caidic), Juno (Sauler) and Art (de la Cruz). Coach Jong has been very supportive and boss Henry (Cojuangco) inspires us.?
Abarrientos said even as Alaska has retired his jersey No. 14, he can?t forget his trade by the Aces. There was pain at first in leaving the Alaska camp but he eventually got over it and moved on.
Abarrientos said his responsibility is to take care of Ginebra?s guards primarily Paul Artadi, Macky Escalona and Chris Pacana. Occasionally, he shares a thing or two with Jay-Jay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa.
Veteran guard Rodney Santos is in the US for his wife?s birth. He has played only a game this season and is in the reserve list. Pacana is hurt and can hardly practice.
?I?m trying to build Paul?s confidence in offense,? said Abarrientos. ?A lot of our problems are mental. If we set our minds to something, it should be automatic like shooting free throws. I notice we sometimes run out of gas in the end so I suggested to Mark to pace himself.?
Abarrientos said big men Alex Crisano and Billy Mamaril are working on their consistency.
?Alex gets mad at himself when things don?t go right like if he doesn?t get a pass after a good seal,? said Abarrientos. ?I told him to control his emotions and just play his game. Nobody?s stronger than Alex and I know his time will come.?
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A reader called to ask if San Antonio Spurs reserve guard Ime Udoka of Nigeria once played in the PBA. The answer is no.
But a Nigerian with a similar name suited up for Tanduay against Purefoods in the 1999 Second Conference. He was 6-8 Ime Oduok who scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Tanduay?s 82-72 win. Curiously, Oduok faced another Nigerian import, Julius Nwosu, in the contest. Oduok was cut after the game and replaced by Ira Clark.
Among Oduok?s Tanduay teammates were Mark Telan, Eric Menk, Jason Webb, Pido Jarencio and the disgraced Fil-Sham Sonny Alvarado. Purefoods was bannered by Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codi?era, another disgraced Fil-Sham Al Segova, Dindo Pumaren and two players still with the squad, Rey Evangelista and Richard Yee.
By the way, ?ime? means patience in Ibo, one of Nigeria?s dialects.
Udoka, 30, was born in Portland and his father Vitalis was Nigerian. He played for three schools ? Eastern Utah, San Francisco and Portland State ? before trying his luck as an import in France and Spain. In the NBA, Udoka has suited up for Los Angeles, New York, Portland and this past season, San Antonio.
