Philippine Showbiz Today Vol 12 No 8 | Page 23

Philippine Showbiz Today 23
April 22 - May 7 , 2017

Philippine Showbiz Today 23

Horn starts training for July 2 bout vs . Pacquiao

While World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has yet to start training extensively , the camp of his Australian challenger Jeff Horn looks leaving no stone unturned in its preparation for the former schoolteacher ’ s titular duel with the Filipino reigning 147-pound titlist set July 2 at the 55,000-seat Suncorp Arena in Brisbane .
Reports from down under had it that Horn ’ s trainer Glenn Rushton is seeking Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion Vasyl Lomachenko to be his ward ’ s main sparring partner to approximate the sizzling speed and ferocious firepower the Filipino icon is expected to dish out .
Not to be outdone , Horn ’ s promoters Duco Events are also talking to world-ranked welterweight Errol Spence to , likewise , help Horn in the biggest fight of his career and in Australian boxing history .
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk , whose Government is helping finance Pacquiao ’ s $ 10 million purse , declared that “ up to 55,000 boxing fans from across Australia and the world are expected to fill
Suncorp Stadium to see the local teacher taking on one of the biggest names in boxing history , on his home turf ”.
“ The match is a highlight on the state ’ s major events calendar ,” Palaszczuk said as quoted by Courier Mail ’ s Grantlee Kieza .
Like Pacquiao , Lomachenko and Spence are left-handers presenting a whole different attack to right-handed ( orthodox ) boxers such as Horn ,” Rushton said .
“ I would dearly love to get Lomachenko to work with Jeff because like Pacquiao he is so fast and razor sharp ,” said Rushton , who has a stable of stars training at the home gym of his Stretton mansion .
“ Pacquiao boxes with an intensity unlike most fighters but Lomachenko is a ring genius . I want guys who are lighter than Jeff ( 67kg ) as sparring partners so they can simulate the same sort of speed and movement that has made Pacquiao such a star .
“ Lomachenko would be much more suitable to prepare for Pacquiao than Errol Spence who is more of a power-puncher ,” Horn ’ s trainer assessed .
Horn , for his part disclosed
that he will resume training hard next week adding that he had actually started preparation even before the first aborted showdown with the eight-division belt-owner , which w originally set April 23 , was announced
“ I ’ ll now be training 4-5 hours a day plus doing video work , watching Pacquiao ’ s recent
Fightmag Photo
fights ., “ he said .
“ It will be the hardest training of my life because of the calibre of Manny and the importance of this fight but I believe in my trainer and he believes in me and I ’ m going into the ring at Suncorp to take Pacquiao ’ s world title .” ●
Volleyball
Far Eastern
University ( FEU ) got the job done , making its third straight Final Four appearance with a 25-16 , 25-16 , 27-25 victory over University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 79 women ’ s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre last Wednesday .
With the season on the line , coach Shaq delos Santos was satisfied with the effort of his Lady Tamaraws to thrive under intense pressure .
“ Sobrang ginusto ng players na maglaro talaga ,” said Delos Santos , who cited their physical and mental preparation for this do-or-die match . “ Nakita naman namin na lahat ng pinaghirapan namin . Sobrang happy and sobrang thankful .”
Bernadeth Pons scattered all of her 12 points from attacks and had eight digs and six excellent receptions , Toni Rose Basas also came through with 12 points while Remy Palma scored half of her 10 points from spikes for FEU .
The Lady Tamaraws were able to survive the marathon third frame after the Lady Maroons committed two errors , a four touches violation on Nicole Tiamzon followed by a net touch violation that closed out the one

FEU Lady Tams reach Final Four

hour , 24 minute clash .
Earlier , Adamson University saved the best for last , as coach Air Padda finally notched her first win with a 25-15 , 25-19 , 25- 15 tramplinh of University of the East .
Finishing the eliminations with a 8-6 slate , FEU will still make it to the semifinals even if National University beats University of Santo Tomas on Saturday that will forge a three-way tie from third to fifth place .
With the rank points as the tiebreaker , the Tamaraws have the advantage with 26 points , leaving the Tigresses ( 24 ) and the Bulldogs ( 19 ) battling in a playoff for the remaining remaining Final Four berth .
A win by UST , however will eliminate NU , joining defending champion De La Salle , Ateneo and FEU in the Final Four which will be played after the Easter holidays .
It was a heartbreaking end to UP ’ s campaign , as the Dilimanbased spikers opened the season at 4-0 , only to crumble when mattered on its quest for a second consecutive Final Four appearance , losing seven of the last 10 matches .
Diana Carlos and Isa Molde combined for 21 points , while Nicole Tiamzon and Kathy Bersola added eight and seven points in their final game for the Lady Maroons .
Playing without pressure and enjoying every point they scored , the Lady Falcons ended a 20- game losing streak while avoiding their first winless season ever , with Jema Galanza , Joy Dacoron and Bern Flora delivering splendid performances .
“ Well , it feels good . I think , we needed this win ,” said Padda .
“ We just wanted it so badly . Because I think all of our hardwork that we have been putting in all the whole season which started nine months ago . And today , we just wanted them to really represent them and fight with them . We wanted to win this because I think , we deserve it ,” she added .
Galanza played her best game of the season for the Adamson with 15 points , 18 digs and 12 excellent receptions while Dacoron and Flora combined for 17 markers .
The Lady Warriors , who were led by Shaya Adorador ’ s nine points , ended the season tied with the Lady Falcons at 1-13 .
In the men ’ s division , Jerome Sarmiento and JP Yude teamed up for 35 points while Nico Ramirez tossed in 28 excellent sets as Adamson University eliminated UP , 21-25 , 25-21 , 25-17 , 25-14 , to give idle UST ( 6-7 ) a free ride to the Final Four .
De La Salle ended its season a bright note with a 25-20 , 25- 16 , 25-14 victory over UE , as the Green Spikers tied the Falcons , as well as the Fighting Maroons at 5-9 . ●
- MB Sports