Super Sports Sunday

Today is October 7, 2007, a day with two sevens on it. While the number “7” is mostly associated with luck (as in Lucky 7), this date is not about luck or being fortunate, it is about being “super” as in “super sports Sunday” as Manny Pacquiao would once again battle Mexican living legend Marco Antonio Barrera in a grueling 12-round fight. Manny Pacquiao appears to be the strong favorite not only here in his own country but also even in Las Vegas and that’s understandable. The 5-year difference in their ages would for certain show and be telling in this fight. It had in fact showed when they first boxed in Texas and the older Barrera just couldn’t take the Pacquiao rock solid punches into the body and head. Maybe he was just unprepared at that time to face a virtually wet-in-the-ears young boxer that Manny was then. And maybe Barrera comes into the ring this time more prepared than before. And maybe, a miracle would happen in Las Vegas today.

But in general, this fight is over. Manny is just too strong a puncher for an old horse like Barrera.

Yet, if some rumors or street talk holds true—-one that is circulating somehow in this city—-Manny Pacquiao would opt to throw away this fight and lose it so that a more exciting rematch would ensue months from now, ala Pacquiao-Morales III. That way, more money would come in for both Pacquiao’s and Barrera’s already bulging pocket. And that means, professional boxing has just descended into the level of pro wrestling where everything is but a farce. I hope Manny Pacquiao would not stooped down to such level despite the fact that he had already made a fool of himself by running for a congressional seat some months ago.

On to the second spectacular sporting event that’ll make this day a Super Sports Sunday—- At about 3:00 this afternoon, the UE Red Warriors would try to snatch the second game of the UAAP best-of-three championship and keep it’s hope alive for a first-ever championship since Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera led UE to it’s last UAAP crown in 1985.

La Salle is of course would not be taking matters lightly and would go for the title juggernaut this afternoon and make the warriors cry once more. Last year, UST had won a nail-biter of a game over the Red Warriors and had them eliminated from the title hunt.

A cousin of mine is playing for UE and although Fhadz Bandaying does not have much playing time for the Warriors, he still remains a very important member of this amazing UE team, which went on sweeping all its elimination games this year, as he gives quality time off the bench.

When I was able to talk to Fhadz last year, I kinda told him that the UST lost last year was a good learning experience for them and that this year would be a better year for them. And indeed, this year is not only better but also in fact very outstanding with that elimination sweep. Even if they lost to La Salle today, it would still be a far better year than last year for them.
But I hope cousin Fhadz and his Red Warriors teammates would win this game today and win it all in Game 3. Nothing like a championship title.