Just months after severing ties with his former promoter Murad Muhammad, Manny Pacquiao signed up Garry Shaw as his new promoter. Pacquiao thus joined a formidable Shaw line-up that includes Winky Wright and Jeff Lacy.
“As a promoter, you always hope to sign a ‘blue chip’ athlete who will win a world title. Today, I have signed a ‘platinum chip’ world-class champion whose persona transcends sports and approaches folklore in the Philippines,” Shaw said after enthusiastically disclosing Pacquiao’s signing.
Shaw also unleashed a verbal jab at Pacquiao’s previous promoter.
“One thing we already agree on: Manny will get the biggest hotel room,” Shaw said, obviously firing a subtle tirade at Muhammad, who occupied the MGM Grand suite that was supposed to be Pacquiao’s on the eve of the Morales fight.
Meanwhile, on his way to the US to prepare for his fight against Mexican Hector Velazquez, Pacquiao had a brief stopover in Cebu and was expectedly swarmed by fans.
Pacquiao also visited the Sun.Star Cebu offices, where he posed and signed autographs for fans.
Philsoc doleout
AFTER the controversial P50 million doleout to Bacolod City, Cebu was granted P10 million by the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee. This financial help however did not come easy as members of the Cebu Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee had to make noise over the perceived favors received by Bacolod.
BAP taps Lhuillier
DESPITE its expulsion from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) continued with its functions and elected businessman and sports patron Michel J. Lhuillier as its vice president for the Visayas. It was part of a series of moves that would strengthen BAP’s presence in the grassroots as it battled its expulsion from the POC.
Tribu’s run ends
Tribu Sugbu’s record of 16 straight home-game wins in the National Basketball Conference was snapped when it lost to the actor-laden Para?aque Jets, 83-80, on Aug. 1.
Grandest palabas
A SPECTULAR show ushered in the new season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. with the annual Grand Palabas, which observers described as the grandest in recent years, at the Cebu Coliseum. The season opener saw University of Cebu’s senior and junior teams beating their counterparts from the Cebu Institute of Technology.
