Not one shot from Pacquiao but who cares?
KIA Sorento debuted in style by inflicting a stunning 80-66 defeat on Blackwater Elite in the opening game on Sunday of the 40th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
I missed the opening ceremony mainly due to the hugeness of the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. A fault of my own, too, as I had arrived a bit late after rushing a column about the devastating debacle suffered by Nonito Donaire Jr. via a 6th-round knockout to the unbeaten Nicholas Walters. With the parking lot underneath the 55,000-seat arena all filled up, I had to scrounge for space – desperately. Finally, I saw one reserved for VIP/ PBA officials but, as I tried to enter, I was stopped at the gate. But, of course.
“Sir, where’s your Car Pass?” asked the burly guard.
“Sorry, Sir, but I don’t have one,” I said.
“Sorry, too, Sir, but you can’t enter here.” “Uh, OK,” I said. “Thank you, Sir.” As I started backing up, the guard said: “Wait, Sir, I think I know you.”
So there. He knew me. From the start, I recognized him as the former close-in security of Tommy Manotoc when Manotoc was still coaching the fabled Crispa Redmanizers that won the PBA Grand Slam in 1976 and 1983.
“I’m so sorry, Sir, for not having recognized you.”
For every heavenly grace, thank your lucky stars, please?
Yes, I missed the parade of teams, with Jinkee Pacquiao as muse of Kia Sorento. It marked the first time in PBA lore that the wife of a player-coach has been selected team muse. But in fairness, Jinkee deserves it. Despite being already a mother of four, she remains stunningly beautiful; voluptuously provocative even.
OK, Pacquiao did not score in 6 minutes and 46 seconds of play but that was inconsequential. Does God answer letters?
Pacquiao not firing a single shot was even necessary. This being basketball and not boxing, any field-goal attempt from the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao could be easily blocked as giants continually lurked in front of him. Didn’t the 6-foot-9 JP Erram foil Pacquiao’s slash to the lane, stealing the ball in the process?
So, if there was one victory on Sunday that could easily outshine Kia Sorento’s win, it was that Pacquiao escaped injury.
A treasure is a heritage worth protecting – to the death.