I GAVE Nostradamus, the French soothsayer who clearly saw tomorrow, a run for his Euro money when I accurately predicted that our Pambansang Kamao Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao would bring Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez to his knees in the first few rounds of their super featherweight fight in Las Vegas last Sunday.

While Marquez drew the first blood by dominating the first and second rounds, Pacquiao shocked the entire planet in the third round when he knocked down the “Dynamite Fighter”, battering and hobbling him physically.

Marquez survived the onslaught of Pacquiao’s volley of punches when the bell came to his rescue, but managed to win the fourth and fifth rounds.

The PACMAN lost rounds 6, 7 and 8 to Marquez as he absorbed a nasty cut on his right eye that came as a handicap for the Pinoy brawler as he draws the killer punch form his left hand.

Again, Manny proved he was a hell of a talented ring strategist when he changed his styl from an aggressor to a counter puncher – a TACTIC that paid off as the judges chose him as the winner of round 11.

Both fighters engaged in a fierce exchange of punches and fought on even terms in the 12^th round, even as boxing fans and aficionados gave both fighters an even chance to win the celebrated rematch dubbed as THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

As I said in my last column, Manny is one-dimensional ring artist who could easily outwit his quarry. And the sports warrior has this to say about people doubting Manny’s world-class boxing ability:

NEVER – EVER – underestimate the heart of a true champion who ruled what was billed as a boxing match fit for movie or film production – starring Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino pride who proverbially rose from the grave to fight – again – the following day just to save his beloved country from unfair criticisms that it is a banana torn apart by endless political bickerings and embroiled in riveting charges of corruption and greed.

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Did you know that basketball superstars Marlou Aquino surprised me and my colleagues in the Sangguniang Barangay with a whirlwind visit at the barangay hall last Wednesday morning?

The 6’9” center of the Sta. Lucia Realty, which remains as a PBA team member to reckon with, came with his ward Byron Jake Vidal, son of University of Luzon Golden Tigers head coach Jackal Vidal.

For those who were born yesterday, Marlou comes from a rustic village of Sta. Barbara, but he rose to national prominence and earned the distinctions as the best hoopster Pangasinan ever produced.

Marlou, Jackal and I are buddies of long standing. We have many things in common. We are all romantic and exemplary basketball lovers and promoters.

Marlou belonged to the big league of amateur basketball players before he was recruited to play in the PBA, which gave him the rare chance of becoming a member of the elite national pool of basketeers.

In 1996, Marlou annexed the PBA rookie of the year title and holds the record as a starter-member of six PBA champion teams ( three from Ginebra and three from Sta. Lucia).

Marlou is not only a professional basketball star, but a civic-spirited person who finds self fulfillment in scouting potential basketball players from our beloved province to play in Manila.

He put up a basketball camp, which serves as a haven that specializes in honing the skills and mental toughness and agility of players who could compete nationally and internationally.

On this season of Lent, sports warrior joins the whole Christendom in reflecting on the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the super athlete and sports great who is second to none.

Happy Easter!