THE Philippines is Planet Pacquiao. But before it produced a world beater, the archipelago was first known as—and still remains—underdog country.

That explains why even if Pacquiao got the usual amped-up cheers at the end of his split-decision victory Sunday, Juan Manuel Marquez got the long-overdue, richly deserved respect from Filipino fight fans.

Boxing fans who trooped to the theaters in one of the huge malls at the Ortigas Center even expressed sympathy for Marquez, saying it was a pity he lost.

“Nakakaawa naman si Marquez,” said Alvin, a 28-year-old businessman who was furiously egging Pacquiao to finish off the fight early but then toned down his zeal when the winner was announced.

The men’s bathroom which was filled with patrons who were hanging on to their seats through the 12-rounder reverberated the “it could’ve gone either way” theme.

“Magaling talaga si Marquez. Nakalusot si Manny dito,” said Perry, a 36-year-old lawyer.

For all the time that he has been champion or challenger in a professional career that dates back to the early 1990s, Marquez said he felt he was always “disrespected.” That annoying feeling was made more glaring in the Pacquiao series.

The first time he fought Pacquiao, Marquez was irked at all the talk, the hype and, most especially, all the prize money his opponent was being offered and given.

Before he faced Marquez in 2004, Pacquiao looked to whet America’s appetite with his action-star fighting style after endearing himself to the American public in his 11-round demolition job of Marco Antonio Barrera.

Marquez stopped Pacquiao’s game plan dead on its tracks, living to fight 11 rounds after falling three times in the first round in what legendary announcer Larry Merchant considers “something I haven’t seen in my life.”

Marquez said he thought he won, but instead he settled for a draw. When he lost over the weekend, Marquez recalled 2004.

“Just like the first fight, [the outcome] is not based on one round. I connected with more punches and I feel like I won,” he said.

Describing Sunday’s defeat, Marquez added: “The knockdown did not affect me. I haven’t lost anything at all. The people know I won this.”

CompuBox statistics may not mean anything in the results of bouts, but it could say a lot about Marquez’s efficiency. While Pacquiao landed 157 of 619 blows (25 percent), Marquez was credited with landing 172 of 511 punches (34 percent).

“[Marquez] moved around a lot more and he countered a lot more,” Pacquiao said, comparing the two Marquez bouts.

Since facing Pacquiao, Marquez has had a love-hate relationship with boxingdom. He was praised for withstanding Pacquiao’s power in the first match, but he never got another marquee matchup until March 2007. He got his second world title last year against Marco Antonio Barrera, but that wasn’t going to pull down raised eyebrows; a rematch with Paquiao was.

When he agreed to fight Pacquiao again, the world champ was made the heavy underdog among prefight bookies. When Marquez finished the full 12 rounds of the rematch with raised hands, the judges saw the bout going Pacquiao’s way.

“I don’t like the decision,” Marquez said. “I still feel I am the champion. It was a bad decision. That first knockdown, he got me cold, but then I adjusted my game plan and I thought from then on, I dictated the whole fight.”

He may have been surprised to lose the fight, but he may find it equally surprising to have won the hearts of most of his opponents’ countrymen.

Next Pacquiao foe, decision winner

IN the undercard, reigning world-lightweight champion David Diaz of Mexico defeated countryman Ramon Montano in a 10-round majority decision. Diaz will reportedly stake his 135-lb championship against Pacquiao in June.

Meanwhile, Filipino featherweight Michael Farrenas won via third-round technical knockout against Baudel Cardenas of Mexico in an eight-rounder, while former world-title challenger Diosdado Gabi fell in the second round to Abner Mares also of Mexico in a scheduled 12-round affair.

Pacman brod falls

PACQUIAO’S victory rectified his younger brother’s unceremonious downfall Thursday when Bobby Pacquiao was knocked out in the first round of a super-featherweight battle at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Urbano Antillon, a US-based Mexican who is undefeated in 21 fights, stopped Pacquiao cold at 2:49 mark of the opening stanza.

World champ again!

Manny Pacquiao crowned himself world champion a third time, but not after surviving an intense contest against fierce Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Respect Earned

THE Philippines is Planet Pacquiao. But before it produced a world beater, the archipelago was first known as—and still remains—underdog country.

Jason Castro and Francis Allera are miles apart in terms of stature in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

THE cream of Philippine billiards crop, along with over a dozen wannabes, will slug it out in the $30,000-plus San Miguel Beer-Quezon City 9-Ball Championship that unfurls Monday at the TriNoma Mall in Quezon City.

THE Shakey’s V-League unveils its fifth season on March 30 with a promise of another blockbuster conference that has marked the last two stagings of the country’s premier women’s volleyball league at The Arena in San Juan City.

THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will formally open Monday its Mindanao satellite office in Davao City, a move aimed to further strengthen the government’s grassroots-development program in the countryside.

IT was dated 1982, but for all intents and purposes it could have happened just yesterday. It was one of those “holy shit” moments for Jay Jay de Ocampo, who was already with a chip on his shoulder the size of a mountain.