TERRAFIRMA, which twice had its franchise nearly sold, apparently is not going away. Not yet because the team, considered the weakest in the PBA with a 2-21 win-loss record in the last two conferences, plans to pick first when the PBA draft is held this year.
A team representative assured the PBA that the Dyip plans to beef up its lineup and continue competing despite announcing earlier that it is disbanding and selling the franchise.
Because it is at the bottom of the standings, the team earned the right to pick first, a development that may make the coming PBA draft unsettling as for sure, the No. 1 pick would not want to play for a team that had plans to leave the PBA which could have happened much earlier had negotiations not fallen through.
SOURCES SAY Deal in the works for Javi GdL's PBA comeback
But the Dyip is still trying to chug forward, although it is running on fumes. It has asked Raymond Tiongco to remain as the head coach under whose watch Terrafirma won two just games, though one of them was against Philippine Cup finalist TNT.
But hope springs eternal for the Dyip as PBA legal counsel Ogie Narvasa confirmed the team's plan to make the first pick.
“Nung meeting, sinabi ni [team] governor Bobby [Rosales] na they have their plans already (to pick first). They have plans to beef up their lineup,” said Narvasa during the July 18 announcement.
Whether this is good news for the PBA, only time will tell. - Reuben Terrado
WILL we see 'Mondo' in Manila?
That’s what the organizers are hoping as they continue to negotiate with the camp of world No. 1 Armand Duplantis for him to take part in the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge this September.
Filipino pole vault sensation EJ Obiena and nine other top pole vaulters headed by Duplantis, have been invited to take part in the competition, but the details, including the names of the other participants, have not yet been disclosed.
Obiena has posted what appeared to be a teaser last week about plans to hold the first-of-its-kind pole vaulting event at the Ayala Triangle Gardens on Sept. 20 and 21.
But the uncertainty of whether Duplantis will compete has made organizers unable to go all out to promote the event knowing the world's record holder will be key to the event's success.
Although they want to see Obiena perform and compete against the world's best, it is Duplantis most fans want to watch knowing the Swedish-American champion has the knack to electrify crowds.
Organizers reportedly have Plan B and C should talks bog down with Duplantis’ camp especially as it seeks to bring most of the top 10 pole vaulters in the world to our shores for this competition.
Currently, the world Top 10 is made up of Duplantis, Emmanouil Karalis of Greece, Sam Kendricks of US, Kurtis Marschall of Australia, Obiena, Ersu Sasma of Turkiye, Menno Vloon of the Netherlands, American Christopher Nilsen, Sondre Mogens Guttormsen of Norway, and Huang Bokai of China. - RL
Mayweather will fight Pacman again on one condition
MANNY Pacquiao has been vocal about his desire to take on Floyd Mayweather Jr again a decade after their blockbuster encounter set gate and pay-per-view records..
The purse is not an issue as both fighters are mega millionaires, but will Mayweather be attracted to another fight against a boxer whom he already has defeated?
The retired undefeated champion hasn’t responded to the challenge of his 46-year-old rival who recently came out of retirement to challenge World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios in a fight that ended in a majority draw.
But people close to the Olympic bronze medalist said he might consider meeting Pacman on one condition.
“Eight-round, exhibition match,” a source told SPIN.ph.
The 48-year-old Mayweather, who retired in 2017 with a perfect record of 50-0 (27 KOs), has been active in the ring the past seven years doing exhibition matches against kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, influencer Logan Paul, former sparring partner Don Moore, Japanese MMA artist Mikuru Asakura, Youtuber Deiji Olatunij, MMA fighter Aaron Chalmers, and boxer and MMA artist John Goti III.
Pacquiao meanwhile, also did exhibition matches upon retirement in 2021 against Korean martial artist DK Yoo and former K-1 super lightweight champion Rukiya Anpo.
But last month, Pacquiao ended his four-year retirement and went back to the ring against Barrios in a 12-round title fight many people thought the Filipino won.
After generating the biggest earning ever in boxing history worth $600 million during its 2015 run, the question is: will fight fans still be interested to watch the two legends mix it up again in an exhibition match? - Gerry Ramos
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