It’s on the house for champ’s pals

LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao didn’t really mind close to 40 persons crowding the living room of his La Palazzo apartment Monday evening because his eyes were glued on the 29-inch flat TV.

Pacquiao just arrived from a four-hour trip from Las Vegas and had not even rested when he pulled out a DVD from his laptop bag. It contained the video of his spectacular 10th round knockout of Erik Morales last Saturday in Vegas.

"This you’ve got to see," he almost shouted.

Then Pacquiao sat at the sofa together with his wife Jinkee and some close friends to watch the replay of his most recent fight at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Pacquiao had a lot of fun watching it, especially the rounds which he totally dominated, like the second and the sixth where Morales barely saved himself from being knocked down.

The 10th round, of course, was where he finally stopped Morales who’s never been knocked out before in his illustrious career.

"Grabe ang laban," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao admitted that Morales connected with his own good shots but said he simply had more power behind his punches in avenging his bitter loss to the Mexican fighter last March.

"Malalakas talaga ang pinatama ko sa kanya. Grabe talaga. Bakbakan talaga, ano?" said Pacquiao.

After watching the fight, Pacquiao started entertaining those in his apartment. He ordered for boxes and boxes of Kentucky fried chicken, corn cobs, French fries and soft drinks for everyone to enjoy.

He also signed autographs and had pictures taken with the fans then later on granted an interview with ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo.

Pacquiao left Las Vegas at around 2 p.m. after having lunch at the famous Nanay Gloria’s, which offers a sumptuous buffet of Filipino food.

Pacquiao had "tortang talong" and "tinolang manok" with rice. He had "leche flan" for dessert.

The left-handed slugger then boarded his $67,000 Porsche Cayenne with Jinkee for the long journey to LA where he will stay until Wednesday for the flight back home. — Abac Cordero

Three other vehicles trailed Pacquiao’s, including a black Chevy Tahoe driven by Arnel Mendoza, a former Special Action Force member of the Philippine National Police, and a big fan of the Filipino icon.

Mendoza volunteered his SUV when members of Team Pacquiao ran one vehicle short for the trip. He literally went the extra mile, 300 miles in fact, to be of help on the day he should have spent with his family and three kids. It was his wife Mylene’s birthday. — Abac Cordero

Pacquiao said he couldn’t wait to get home and be reunited with his two kids.

"Mga anak, malapit na umuwi ang daddy. Malapit na," he said during the TV interview.

Like every father, he truly does. — Abac Cordero