April 13, 2014
12 nn,
Sunday,
Barangay hall
Barangay 83, Zone 10
Pilapil St.,
EDSA Rotonda,
Pasay City
It’s Saturday evening in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. And, American boxer Timothy Bradley Jr. is seeking answers.
He has been brashly – and repeatedly – questioned the killer instinct and competitive fire of Filipino ring legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao leading up to their welterweight rematch.
All this, according to reports I read on ABS-CBN online.
While Bradley was busy getting answers to his questions, somethings about over in Pasay City, in Metro Manila, Philippines.
Over at the my apartment somewhere in Pilapil St., Barangay 83, Zone 10, I was about to have lunch when I noticed a big group of people gathering at the barangay hall.
I was supposed to leave early for the SM Mall of Asia Arena to watch the ongoing action of the 2014 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship.
But, what took place at that point in time delayed my trip. Barangay chairman Jimmy Montesa had the roads leading to the barangay office cordoned off by tricycles bearing signs welcoming residents and commuters going down the nearby EDSA-LRT station to come and watch the Pacman-Bradley fight.
(tricycle in middle of Pilapil St., inviting residents and commuters going to LRT EDSA station (hidden at left) for a live viewing).
The big group of people gathering amidst the heat of the midday sun were quietly down inside half a dozen tents when I came around.
A 40-inch TV is sitting in front of the barangay for the free live viewing of the fight.
(barangay chairman Jimmy Montesa (in yellow shorts) looks at the crowd while standing near flat screen TV).
So, I settle down in the crowded front row to watch the beginning of the fight.
As Pacquiao made sure that there would be no controversy in the rematch as he dismantled Bradley to win via a unanimous decision, I took photos of the crowd around me, noting the emotions in their faces, and until my batteries ran out.
(crowd gather to watch)
As the Pacman landed his left straight with frequency even in the latter rounds, I got distracted looking for my wife when I decided to return to the house when the third round took place.
She was lost in the crowd, as I tried to seek her to get the key which would unlock the door to the apartment, and so I can recharge and change batteries.
As Bradley faded down the stretch, I made efforts to keep a view of the fight amidst the thick crowd in between my search.
(plastic tables support flat screen TV).
I finally found her near a shanty and camouflaged behind a jeep.
I finally got into the house, got my batteries recharges, and brought out replacements as well, and took more photos from afar by the time I returned in the ninth round.
(crowd settles down to watch fight).
I felt I hardly missed a thing when Pacquiao was unable to win by knockout.
He clearly dazed Bradley numerous times(according to what I have read in the online reports later), and unloaded a brutal 10-punch combination in the seventh round.
(live view near the barangay hall)
I saw this happening while “Desert Storm” was pinned against the ropes.
As the Pacman punched away, I got fascinate taking photos of a father and kid watching closely near the TV.
It’s Jonjon Echalas and his seven year old son P-Jay, I would find out after the fight.
(Jon Jon Eschalar and son P-Jay, watching fight from up close).
Even while I got busy trying to reenter my house, I was always back to watch as Bradley surprisingly choosing to slug it out with Pacquiao.
The big exchanges were happening in the early rounds, with Bradley staying in the pocket against the Filipino and exchanging.
His attacks worked in the fourth round, when he rocked Pacquiao with an overhand right that forced the “Pacman” to backpedal, according to what I later read, and what I also witnessed on the big screen.
On screen, it looked that Bradley was unable to sustain his early onslaught.
Looking quite tired in the second half of the bout, he often opted to wind up for a huge right hand in an effort to knock out Pacquiao.
And he wound up missing most of his punches.
When it was over the unanimous decision loss was the first of Bradley’s career.
(crowd reacts to Pacman win).
I knew it was time to pack when I saw the crowd around me roaring into applause, and on TV, Mommy Dionesia was giving Bradley a congatulatory hug.
Pektus Corner 