NOT just one or two, but a total of three.
The Philippine Sportswriters Association is faced with the imminent task of ordering three very special trophies to honor the country’s most outstanding athletes of the year.
It’s hard to imagine how any of our top bets in the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games could surpass the impact of the 3-for-3 knockout masterpiece performed by Manny Pacquiao, Brian Viloria and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
So, does PSA president Jimmy Cantor have a choice of, say, even cutting the Athlete of the Year Award to only two?
We ask this because of this snide comment, reportedly heard during the presidential award rites for the Magnificent Trio on Monday, that Boom Boom Bautista had no business being in Malaca?ang.
Reason: Unlike Pacquiao and Viloria, Bautista did not actually bag a crown in Los Angeles on Sept. 11.
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We won’t try to determine who dared raise this rotten point.
Broadcaster Hermie Rivera swore he heard it before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could nod and agree to a table suggestion that Pacquiao, too, should hire spies for his forthcoming rematch with Mexico’s Erik Morales.
Pacquiao, in that feast with the President, had to be reminded that, other than the in-house distraction caused by a gang of kibitzers in Los Angeles, he lost to Morales because Mexican spies were able to penetrate his camp at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Pacquiao smiled meekly and hinted he might just return the compliment (to Morales) for their rematch slated in January.
To which Rivera sent the exquisite table shaking, the delicate dinner glasses tilting, after he winked and suggested that Mrs. Arroyo pick her choice of Pacquiao spy from among opposition senators.
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No, the name of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson was never mentioned when the topic was raised.
But Pacquiao was so thrilled and tickled he ended up embracing Hermie on their way out of the Palace reception.
Of course, what they could not get over with was this suspicion about an anti-Boom Boom Bautista campaign.
Without elaborating on who could be these Bautista haters, Rivera swore it did not matter a bit if Boom Boom did not snare a crown at Staples.
OK, Pacquiao and Viloria picked their share of world title belts, for the WBC International super featherweight and the WBC light flyweight, respectively.
But it was just fitting that the triumphant trio share in the glory and adulation of an overwhelmed President and a thankful nation.
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For the record, it was Bautista who jump-started that 3-for-3 knockout parade with a crisp, dramatic knockout win over Colombia’s Luis Murillo.
Yes, no title was at stake in that eight-round bout which Bautista cut down to three with the stoppage of his older, heftier foe.
Pacquiao himself had no crown to wear after his unforgettable massacre of the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico in November 2003.
Again, just like in their first encounter, no title will probably be at stake in the Morales-Pacquiao rematch.
Who cares? The boxing world will again never hesitate to buy and enjoy that non-title bout as the real thing.
Boom Boom? Imagine if he was not made to also bask in the glory as they were borne in a ticker tape parade around the city on Monday. The day would’ve felt half-empty for the fans.
Pacquiao, who has not been wearing any great crown of his own, is a confirmed world pound-for-pound great. Viloria owns the WBC light flyweight kingship.
Bautista’s World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight belt may indeed be petty and insignificant when it comes to titles and decorations.
But, more than Pacquiao and Viloria, the 19-year-old Bohol Brown Bomber personifies the big promise of bigger things to come for RP boxing.
That, itself, is the biggest knockout of all.
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(MESSAGES: From agriculture activist Benjie Angeles: Pls. find time to attend AGRILINK/FOODLINK at World Trade Center, Buendia Ave. ext. Oct. 6-8. Open 9 am to 7 pm Ders plenty of selling booths, n cheap pa… From Juan Ramon R. Guanzon, president, Negros Amateur Boxing Association; commissioner, Negros Basketball Association: I thought I need to inform you about boxers Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and Yukka Gejon. Both are products of the selfless dedication and expertise of Cebu boxing “godfather” Antonio Aldeguer. Sure, famed trainer Freddie Roach trained Boom Boom for a few months, but Bautista was already an accomplished boxer who could knock out opponents with either hand because of Tony’s ability in training his own boxers. I know this for a fact because “Bidoy,” as Aldeguer is known to Bacolodnons when he was a coach of USLS junior team (Rep. Newks Puentebella and myself were among his players), is a very good coach. Both in boxing and basketball. I thought Bidoy was not given due credit in one of your columns.)
