HOLLYWOOD – Buboy Fernandez said she’s the only lady so far who was able to keep up with Manny Pacquiao in both the uphill and downhill path of the well-known Griffith Park during the boxing hero's regular morning runs at the eastern end of the Santo Monica Mountains.
So it wasn’t surprising that Marites Diamond emerged one of the top two winners in the weight loss contest the boxing great initiated among women members of Team Pacquiao while he’s in the middle of his training for a second fight against Timothy Bradley.
They Said It!
“Nagulat si Manny, akala niya di makakatagal lalo na nung paakyat ng Griffith Park. Pero natawa siya kasi nung pababa na, nakita niya kasunod pa rin niya." Manny Pacquiao trainer Buboy Fernandez
The lovely lady was US$8,000 richer along with Angelica after both lost eight percent of their body weight prior to the start of the novelty contest three weeks ago.
Pacquiao personally handed out the cash prizes to the winners in his LA mansion on Sunday.
An accountant based in San Francisco for 20 years now, Marites was beaming with pride after being declared the winner on the day her daughter Ashlyn turned 10.
“I dedicated this win to her. Nagkataon pa na birthday niya ngayon,” said Marites, who was also accompanied by her husband.
Diamond is already into physical fitness even before the contest. “I’ve been into physical fitness pero not something like this,” she said with a smile as she partook of small amounts of rice, pansit, prawns, and meat when the contest was over.
“Ang hirap pala,” Marites added with a laugh.
But Fernandez, who had been a friend of Marites and her hubby for a long time now, attested to how physically gifted she is, recalling the incident where she jogged side-by-side with the 35-year-old Pacquiao one cold morning of last month.
“Nagulat si Manny, akala niya di makakatagal lalo na nung paakyat ng Griffith Park. Pero natawa siya kasi nung pababa na, nakita niya kasunod pa rin niya tsaka ni Bobby (Pacquiao),” said Fernandez.
Pacquiao later lauded all those who participated in the contest that numbered 32 in all.
“Congratulations sa inyong lahat. This is not just about money, but about having a healthy body,” he said in his short message warmly greeted by dozens of visitors.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
