Stunned does not even begin to describe how we felt when Michael Buffer announced Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s controversial win over Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez.
We were ready to concede defeat even before the 12th round bell was struck, and conceding defeat is not in the vocabulary of my companions during the fight — the “Bhutakals” of the IBP Basketball League. If even Atty. Christopher Ang, our chief “Bhutakal” and the most hardcore of all Pacquiao fans whose ready to take a bullet for his idol, could admit defeat after Manny’s below par performance versus Marquez last Sunday, then it must be true. There was no denying it.
Even the veteran sports analysts and true boxing pundits Ronnie Nathanielsz and Ed Tolentino agree Manny wasn’t his usual brilliant self that day and the more deserving Dinamita was robbed of a win, and the sooner Team Pacquiao and this country admits it, the better for everyone.
Let’s not be in denial.
Of course it wasn’t Pacquiao’s fault that the judges decided erroneously. He is, after all, just the boxer in the ring. Although it makes me wonder, if all this was part of a grand scheme by the cunning Bob Arum to bait and lull trash-talking Floyd Mayweather into thinking that he can beat Manny in the ring. Only time and maybe a tell-all unauthorized biography of Bob Arum can tell.
Shifting Gears
Cebu City’s erstwhile road-running queen, Christy Tutor, outran and outclassed Cebu’s trail and ultrarunning queen Merlita Dunkin at the Habagat 50K ultramarathon held last 11-11-11.
Tutor snagged the top prize from the more seasoned Dunkin after finishing the grueling race in 5:49:43. Dunkin, whose expertise is trail running, finished thirty minutes behind in 6:17:56, followed by Ungo runner Janet Legazpi in 7:28:45.
Tutor’s entry into the local ultramarathon scene is a much welcome development and is expected to raise the level of competition. Before last Saturday’s upset, Dunkin has had no real competition from the current crop of local women runners in the local ultramarathon and trail running scene, especially after the untimely death of top ultrarunner Melinda Ponce.
Tutor has made a name for herself in the middle distance events (5k, 10k, 15k) before going on a three-year hiatus to give birth and raise babies. In 2010 Christy started training again with Coach Precing Capangpangan in her attempt to make a comeback. Since then, Christy Tutor’s biggest win was landing 1st place at the 42k Kawasan Falls Marathon last July.
Last weekend’s Habagat 50k ultra was Christy’s first foray into the ultramarathon world and I hope it won’t be the last.
Cebu City Marathon
If I were forced to reduce my race calendar to just one marathon a year, I would have to choose without hesitation, the Cebu City Marathon.
Organized by the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC), this annual footrace was the first to set the bar high in locally-run full marathon races, receiving rave reviews even during its debut in 2010.
The 42k and 21k categories will feature the same out and back route they used in the 2011 edition. This means that the 2012 edition will be a good race for setting new course records and personal bests.
If you collected the iconic mango finisher’s medals from the 2010 and 2011 editions, be sure not to miss the 2012 Cebu City Marathon. Next year’s medal is bigger and heftier with three mangoes clumped together – the third and last of the the mango series.
As today is pay day, there’s no better way to spend your money than to go and register for the Cebu City Marathon 2012 before the fees go up on Nov. 21, 2011.
The regular registration fees of P1,000 for 42k; P700 for 21k and P500 for 5k will last until Sunday Nov. 20 only. Thereafter, late registration fees will apply, increasing the fees by as much as P200.
The fees will cover a limited edition New Balance singlet (first 5,000 registrants only), medal (for 42k finishers), timing chip, loot bag, access to the carbo-loading party on Jan. 4, 2012, raffle entry and discount coupons. Registration is on-going at the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu or online through www.cebumarathon.com.