LAS VEGAS ? Newly crowned WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao was star-struck when his favorite NBA player Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics showed up to celebrate the Filipino icon?s ninth round disposal of David Diaz in the dressing room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino here Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila).
?You?re my idol,? said Pacquiao as he shook hands and posed for pictures with Garnett who confessed it was his first time to witness a live boxing event.
Then, Pacquiao ? hardly marked in his clinical dispatch of Diaz ? turned to his cheering fans and said, ?I told you so.?
The day before, Pacquiao broke the news of the Celtics watching the fight and it didn?t seem probable.
During the recent NBA Finals, Pacquiao watched every game of the series, rooting for the Celtics, on a wide-screen TV in his La Brea apartment near Hollywood. He would?ve liked to watch the three contests hosted by the Los Angeles Lakers at the nearby Staples Center but wouldn?t violate his self-imposed 9 p.m. curfew.
Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, Kendrick Perkins, Rajan Rondo and Tony Allen entered Pacquiao?s dressing room and created a commotion. They were provided ringside tickets on Pacquiao?s invitation.
Garnett called Pacquiao ?a great fighter? and marvelled at the way the Filipino scored a decisive knockout over Diaz. He led a chorus of ?Manny, Manny, Manny? when Pacquiao stepped out of the showers to join his well-wishers.
Cassell tried to steal the show from his teammates by hogging the front spotlight as photographers had a field day snapping shots. All in good fun, of course.
Pierce recalled visiting the Philippines four years ago and when a sportswriter mentioned he interviewed the Truth in Manila, the Celtics skipper quickly turned to Garnett exclaiming, ?You see, they know me over there.?
Pacquiao couldn?t imagine Garnett taking time to greet him.
?There?s only one guy I want to take a picture with,? said Pacquiao. ?That?s Garnett. He?s been my idol since he played for Minnesota. And now that he?s with the Celtics, Boston has become my favorite team.?
Somewhere in the arena was Lakers reserve Luke Walton who quietly watched the bout without fanfare. He wasn?t invited to Pacquiao?s dressing room.
By the way, trainer Freddie Roach said he was so pleased with Pacquiao?s showing that he wouldn?t stand in the way if the fighter decides to play basketball the next few weeks.
?I think Manny has earned it,? beamed Roach. ?He can even play for the Celtics which is also my favorite team because I?m from Boston.?
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Pacquiao?s wife Jinkee said she didn?t feel nervous during the fight. It was because Pacquiao was relaxed from the moment he woke up that morning.
Fr. Marlon Beof, a Filipino priest based in New York, celebrated the Holy Mass in Pacquiao?s 60th floor Mandalay Bay suite at 9:30 a.m. then the fighter cheerfully thanked over 100 supporters for attending.
Those who came for the Mass included Speaker Prospero Nograles, Rep. Robbie Puno and wife Chiqui Roa, former Gov. Chavit Singson, Rep. Monico Puentevella, Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia, Secretart Lito Atienza with wife Beng and son Ali, former Rizal Gov. Ito Ynares, sportsman Hermie Esguerra, Malacanang deputy spokesman Tonypet Albano, Solar chairman Wilson Tieng and brother Willie, Solar CEO Peter Chanliong, No Fear?s Tommy Ong and Frank Lao.
Jinkee said Pacquiao didn?t do his usual walk around the hotel after the Mass because it was too hot outside. He went down to the lobby for a while then returned to his suite.
Pacquiao ate the same breakfast and lunch of tinolang manok, grilled salmon and vegetables. He was careful not to overeat and kept within 10 pounds over what he scaled at the weigh-in the day before.
?Manny didn?t even take a nap,? said Jinkee. ?He watched TV and even played chess with Fr. Marlon.?
Jinkee said Pacquiao?s performance against Diaz was the best she?s ever seen in his career. Right from the onset, she knew it was just a matter of time before Diaz fell.
?Manny was in excellent condition,? she said. ?No distractions. He was very focused in his training and sacrificed a lot. I?m very proud of him. He did it for our country and for all Filipinos.?
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One of two full-time sparring partners hired to train Diaz for Pacquiao was a Filipino born in the Mountain Province. Diamond Gutomen Baier, 31, was chosen by Diaz? trainer Sam Colon to simulate Pacquiao?s style in gruelling sparring sessions in Chicago.
Baier, who started boxing only five years ago and is not a pro, said he applied to spar with Diaz in tryouts. Four were taken and two, including Baier, were signed up for full-time duty.
?I want to turn pro but Diaz? manager Jim Strickiland thinks I?m too old,? said Baier. ?I think I have the ability and skills to become a contender. I?m training hard. I?ve done work for a hotel and now, I?m doing sales for a cable company. But if there?s an opportunity to make a career out of boxing, I?ll take it.?
Baier?s parents Telesforo Gutomen and the late Verina Tuason migrated to the US when he was 10 years old. He was later adopted by an aunt and her German husband William Baier.
Baier, the third of four children, predicted an exciting fight between Diaz and Pacquiao. He was right.
