Pacman TV commercial shelved

The planned San Miguel Beer TV commercial that would have featured Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao with his American trainer Freddie Roach and Mexican rival Erik Morales is off.

According to a very reliable source, people at San Miguel Corp. were "disappointed" when the plan for the shooting of the commercial was leaked to the media, both foreign and local.

"It was supposed to be highly-confidential. But word got out to the press, including those in the US, even before the details were finalized. People at San Miguel didn’t like it," said the source.

According to the source, the commercial should have and would have come out as a big surprise to everyone, including the millions of Pacquiao fans, and more particularly, SMC’s competitors.

"They were pre-empted and the decision was made that the commercial is off. I don’t know if it will ever push through," the source added.

News about the commercial first came out in the Internet shortly after Roach, in an interview with the American media, apparently said he was scheduled to be back in Manila this month for a TV commercial.

But despite the cancellation of the project, Roach and Morales, who absorbed a devastating third-round knockout to Pacquiao last Nov. 18 in Las Vegas, are still coming over.

Roach, who has served as Pacquiao’s trainer since 2001, is reportedly putting up a boxing gym in Quezon City while Morales will be coming in upon the invitation of an unidentified Filipino friend.