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| › power up his sleeves |
Cotto undaunted by Pacman’s speed
He is rated as underdog by bookmakers for his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welter
weight title defense against Manny “Pound for Pound King” Pacquiao in Las Vegas on November 14 (Nov. 15, our time). With a solid record of 34-1, including 27 knock-outs, Miguel Cotto is confident he has enough power and thorough preparation up his sleeves to counteract the Pacman’s much-touted speed in the ring.
“I don’t know anything about the betting business,” Cotto said during a press briefing at his training camp in Las Vegas, “I am just here to try to bring my best every day in the gym. With all the work I make in my training camp, I am going to the fight to win money. I am here for myself, not for any kind of bet. I am prepared for anything Manny can bring to this fight. He has a lot of things besides his speed and I am prepared for all he can show me at this time. Manny comes from a lower weight division and if he thinks he is going to have the same power as Miguel Cotto, he is thinking pretty wrong. He has picked the wrong moment and the wrong fighter. If he thinks he is going to win against Miguel Cotto, he is pretty wrong.’
Cotto, who successfully defended his WBO belt in a grueling, split-decision victory over Ghana’s Joshua Clottey in June, expressed confidence in his ability to manage Pacquiao’s speed. He said: “We know he has speed and style and that is why you prepare yourself to beat him. You will find out on the 14th how I am going to deal with his speed and it is not going to be the factor that everyone thinks it is… What they say and do doesn’t concern me. I know they know what they have in front of them. I know what I can do to him and he better be focused on what he is up against in Miguel Cotto. It’s not really important what the boxing world wants to see or wants to do. Once I beat Manny Pacquiao on November 14, they continue their plans and do whatever they want but I am not going home without winning this fight.”
Pacquiao convinced the boxing world he is the sport’s premier fighter when he knocked out Britain’s Ricky Hatton in May in stunning fashion, to claim the IBO light welterweight crown. Since then, his match against Cotto has been overshadowed by industry speculations about a possible lucrative bout with undefeated American welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr., leading many fans into believing that the Cotto fight is now just a formality. |
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| › post season shuffle
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Two more UAAP coaches leave
The contract of coach Pido Jarencio with the University of Santo Tomas lapsed this year and was not renewed. Rumored to become the next coach of National University, Jarencio mentored UST to the University Athletic Association (UAAP) championship in 2006 during his rookie season, and guided the team to its final four finishes in the last two seasons. It was also under his stewardship that UST players Jervy Cruz (2006) and Dylan Ababou (2009) were awarded the ‘most valuable player’ awards.
Coach Manny Dandan of NU was dismissed after the team’s poor 3-11 record during the last UAAP season. He led the team to its only final four appearance in 2001.
They’re two of the latest to leave the ranks of their respective teams. Last week, Jose Rizal University coach Ariel Vanguardia was fired, while coach Franz Pumaren of La Salle resigned after the Archers failed to place in the final four.
Meanwhile, JRU has included in its short list of prospective coaches ex-PBA star Vergel Meneses, to replace Vanguardia.
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| › Asian Indoor Games |
Female pugilist gives RP first gold
The country’s first gold medal in this year’s Asian Indoor Games (AIG) at the Bacninh Gymnasium in Vietnam was secured courtesy of female boxer Annie Albania, who outpointed Thailand’s Sopida Satumrum in the finals of the women’s bantamweight division, 12 to 4, dominating her opponent in rounds 3 and 4.
So far, the Philippine team has garnered two bronze medals off Josie Gabuco’s pinweight win and Biboy Rivera’s efforts in the men’s bowling singles. Another bronze is assured for the RP team with Sanshou 48-kilogram fighter Jennifer Lagilag advancing to the semis through the draw. Chief of mission Julian Camacho is confident of a better performance from the RP team this year after winning just one gold medal each in the 2005 Bangkok inaugural and in the 2007 Macau games. Camacho said, “Our athletes in muay, bowling, wushu, swimming and chess are still competing and remain possible contenders. I truly believe we are headed into a good showing this year.”
Albania’s teammate Mitchel Martinez, in the women’s light welterweight division, was not as lucky -- she lost to China’s Cheng Dong in the finals, outscored 18-3.
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| › NBA Development League |
Female Hall-of-Famer to coach male hoopsters
Hall of Famer inductee Nancy Lieberman, the first woman to play pro-basketball with men, will be the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks’ affiliate in the NBA Development League set to start next year, an all-male team. The D-league team’s partial owner, Donnie Nelson -- who also directs the Mavericks’ basketball operations -- thought of hiring Lieberman because of her solid track record in basketball. He said, “She’s got the skins, the experience -- she knows what she’s doing -- so I certainly hope that we’re well beyond those issues. Besides, if you can’t respect authority, no matter what form or color it comes in, I don’t want you on my team.”
Though the composition of the team has not been finalized yet, Lieberman is upbeat about her latest basketball episode: “I feel like I’m the right person for the job. I know how these guys feel. I played in the minor leagues. I’m ultimately connected to that part of development in a player’s life… I kind of look at President Obama. Everybody knows it’s historical because he’s a man of color. But at the end of the day, regardless of his race, creed, color or gender, he has to be President. Everybody knows I’m a woman, but at the end of the day, regardless of my race, creed, color or gender, I have to win basketball games. In 1986, my goal was not to be a girl playing in a men’s league, it was to be a player in a men’s league. In 2010, I don’t want to be a woman who is coaching men, I want to be a coach who is coaching.”
A basketball pioneer since she was 17, Lieberman made the US Olympic team for the first women’s tournament at the 1976 Montreal Games. She was hailed as a star player at Old Dominion and in various women’s pro leagues. In 1986, she joined the Springfield Fame of the United States Basketball League and, when the WNBA started, returned as a player and later coach and general manager. At age 50, she returned in a stint as a player in July 2008. |
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