Pacman sweetens Olympic pot for Barriga

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao sounded so pleased that Mark Anthony Barriga hurdled his initial assignment in the London Olympics that he instantly guaranteed a bonus for the lone Filipino boxing bet if he gets into the medal round.

“May  bonus siya sa akin pag nag-medal siya (He gets a bonus from me if he wins a medal),” the 33-year-old Pacquiao told The STAR late Tuesday.

The 19-year-old Barriga, whose fighting style in a way resembles that of Pacquiao’s, overcame a four-inch disadvantage in height and handily beat Italy’s Manuel Cappai, 17-7.

It was one of the most lopsided wins on opening day of the boxing competitions in the London Olympics, and Pacquiao was glad to hear the news.

The native of Panabo, Davao Oriental is the only Filipino boxer who qualified for the London Games.

Pacquiao, the only eight-time world champion in as many weight divisions, failed to catch Barriga’s fight on television due to a previous commitment.

But the moment he heard about the win, which sent Barriga to a round-of-16 clash with Kazakhstan’s Birzhan Zhakypov, Pacquiao aired his great satisfaction.

“Panalo ba siya? (Did he win?)” Pacquiao asked after he picked up his phone.

And when told that Barriga was impressive in the victory, and that the 5-foot-2 boxer moved like him inside the ring, Pacquiao said, “Ganun ba? (Is that so)?”

“Sabihin mo sa kanya may bonus siya sa akin (Tell him he gets a bonus from me),” said Pacquiao, who still hasn’t decided on the amount during the brief conversation.

“Basta may bonus siya,” he reiterated.

Pacquiao, flag-bearer of the Philippine contingent to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, did not say if the bonus is open to any other Filipino athlete who wins a medal in London.

Under Republic Act 9064, otherwise known as the Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001, a bronze medalist in the Olympics gets P1 million, silver P2.5 million and gold P5 million.

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines under sports patron Manny Pangilinan has its own incentive package for its boxers, even bigger than what the government could offer.

Barriga, a pint-sized southpaw like Pacquiao, needs two more wins to reach the medal round. Zou Shiming of China, the reigning Olympic champion in the 49 kg class, is standing in the way.

Ed Picson, executive director of ABAP, said Barriga was thrilled to learn about Pacquiao’s reaction to his opening win.

“Kilig na kilig (He was so thrilled). Totoo raw ba yon? (He asked if it was true),” said Picson, who was with Barriga when he trained three weeks in Cardiff, Wales prior to London.

“Pakisabi daw kay Cong. Manny Pacquiao salamat (He wants to thank Pacquiao),” the ABAP executive added.

The Filipino boxing icon just provided Barriga the extra motivation he needs.

The boxer’s parents, Edgar and Mellita, arrived in London the other day to cheer on their son, who is set to see action again on Saturday.

But the other Barriga family members have something in store for the boxer when he comes home.

Barriga’s uncle, Bert, who heads the local Information Technology Communication association in Southern Mindanao, expressed the family’s pride in his feat.

“We are so overwhelmed with what Mark Anthony has accomplished. Making it to the Olympics and winning his first fight. Wow! My little nephew has the guts of David and the strength of Goliath! He is simply amazing!” Bert exclaimed.

He said the family is eagerly waiting for the boxer to come home.

“Can’t wait to see you here in Davao. Win or lose, the red carpet awaits you!” exclaimed his uncle Bert.

Olympic potential

Barriga’s townmate, Generose Tecson, said Barriga has come a long way to make it to the London Olympics.

“Barriga has indeed come a long way since he came from Barangay San Vicente and asked to join our boxing program when he was just 10 or 11 years old. We already saw his potential even when he was young. He really started and trained with us,” said Tecson, who worked as chief of staff of former Davao del Norte representative Antonio ‘Tonyboy’ Floirendo Jr.

Tecson said it was the thought that the country’s first Olympic gold would come from the south and that it would be via the boxing ring that prompted Floirendo in 2003 to come up with a boxing program that would produce a team of future champions.

Tecson recalled how Floirendo, who now heads the Anflocor Group of Companies, tasked her to research on boxing and for her to really study the sports event.

“I went around the country and found out the local boxing team of former senator Migz Zubiri was the one that we could best pattern our proposed team on. And I even underwent training myself for me to really be effective in carrying out the boxing program,” she said.

Floirendo assigned Tecson as the manager of the Davao del Norte Boxing Team which was initially known as Barangay Una boxing team, until 2007 when it assumed its present identity.

Since the boxers already started bringing honors by winning bouts in different parts of the country, Floirendo decided the team should be known as the Davao del Norte boxing team to bring honor to the province.

“But what is significant here is Tonyboy is the one who shoulders all the expenses of the Davao del Norte boxing team even since it started in 2003. He pays for everything – from their allowances to other requirements for training and their other needs.”

Tecson explained Floirendo made it clear that the young boxers would not be called just boxers but rather “scholars.”

Floirendo insisted the young boxers should not only excel in the sport but that they should also be able to continue their studies and maintain good grades until college.

Tecson said that until now Floirendo still finances the program that at present has 76 boxers in its stable.

The boxers were also assigned their respective chores while staying in the team’s quarters in Panabo City.

“We really make sure that the boxers are able to maintain their grades and we help them study their lessons well. They were all well-provided for from their clothing, dental allowance, to food, to quarters and everything else as long as they are able to go to school and at the same time train as boxers,” she said. – With Edith Regalado