Arum, basketball leagues pledge help

MANILA – “People’s Champ” Manny Pacquiao revealed that his whole team was affected by the tragedy brought about by Tropical Storm “Ondoy,” including his sparring partners.

“Gaya ng lahat, naapektuhan din ang aking mga sparring partners dahil sa bagyong sumapit sa Pilipinas,” Pacquiao wrote in his Oct. 1 “Kumbinasyon” column on PhilBoxing.com.

Pacquiao, who is in the thick of training in Baguio City for his Nov. 14 fight against Miguel Cotto, hopes that his bout can uplift the spirits of flood victims.

“Mas lalo akong nasasabik at lalo akong lalaban ng matindi para sa inyong lahat sa kabila ng trahedyang ito upang ang aking pagpapanalo sa ring ang makapagbigay man lang ng maliit na kasiyahan sa inyong lahat,” he said.

“Ipinapanalangin kong sana ay maibalik natin ang sigla ng ating mga buhay kahit sa maliit na pamamaraang ito,” added the pound-for-pound king.

Pacquiao also mentioned his plans of going to Manila on Sunday to give away relief goods in affected areas.

“Susubukan kong bumaba sa Manila sa Linggo upang personal na makita kayong lahat at makapagbigay man lang ulit ng kahit na maliit na saya, dahil alam ko at nararamdaman ko ang inyong pagdadalamhati at kalungkutan sa mga panahong ito.”

He said he will try to distribute food, water, clothes and medicines along with his team. But if his plan to go to Manila on Sunday pushes through, he would have to return to Baguio to resume his training.

Pacquiao earlier said he was donating P1 million for the “Ondoy” victims, The Philippine Star reported.

More donations

Pacquiao also said his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions, will be arriving in the country on Thursday (Oct. 1).

Before boarding the plane to Manila, Arum told The Philippine Star that Top Rank will give P1 million to the typhoon victims.

He added that he would join Pacquiao in his planned relief operations in Manila on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Philippine Basketball League (PBL) chairman Mikee Romero gave a seed fund worth P500,000.

The country’s basketball leagues are set to hold exhibition games on Monday at the Araneta Coliseum for the benefit of the “Ondoy” victims.

The “Pinoy Basketball, Kakampi Ninyo” event will pit a team composed of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) players against a squad of PBL and Liga Pilipinas cagers.

The second charity game will feature the Powerade-Team Pilipinas and Smart Gilas Pilipinas.

Meantime, The Philippine Star reported that the Quezon City Marathon (QCIM) will donate P500,000 to the victims. The amount is part of the sponsorships generated for the event.

In addition, a portion of the marathon’s registration fees will be reportedly donated victims in Quezon City. – With reports from Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star and Nelson Beltran, The Philippine Star