Five Metro Manila cities welcome newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC)  super-featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao with a tickertape parade tomorrow to celebrate his recent victory over Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Eric Pineda of Team Pacquiao announced the long route, which is expected to take almost the whole morning and afternoon of Tuesday and will cover major routes in Manila, Pasig, Makati, Pasay and Quezon City.

“Our champion wants to cover as much part of Metro Manila,” Pineda said. “He could not wait to see his fans after his big triumph over Marquez last week. It’s where Manny’s heart is, with his fans and he could not wait to mingle with them. He worked hard for his victory, for his fans and the country.”

Pacquiao will also pay a courtesy call to President Arroyo in Malacañang. It was Mrs. Arroyo’s call which Pacquiao received just minutes after his victory over Marquez at the Mandalay Bay.

Pacquiao is also scheduled to attend a Mass early morning before the parade.

Pacquiao is expected to be welcomed by his supporters, including Vice President Noli de Castro, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and boxing friends from days of old.

A media conference is also scheduled upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Federer distressed

INDIAN WELLS, California—Roger Federer lost again, this time in one of the biggest tennis upsets in memory. Mardy Fish, an American ranked 98th, shocked No. 1 Federer in straight sets Saturday, with the lopsided score—6-3, 6-2—making it even more of a stunner.

Wild, wild west

NEW ORLEANS—David West scored 37 points, and the New Orleans Hornets overcame an early 15-point deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics, 113-106, in the National Basketball Association on Saturday.

Five Metro Manila cities welcome newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC)  super-featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao with a tickertape parade tomorrow to celebrate his recent victory over Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Despite the addition of San Beda star Sam Ekwe on its lineup, winning the Seaba Club championship for the second straight year is not a sure thing for Harbour Centre-Philippine team.

Godfrey Castro lost in a flyweight semifinal in what RP officials perceive as a dubiously scored bout in the second and final Olympic boxing qualifying held Saturday in Astana, Kazakhstan.

THE North All-Stars defeated their Southern counterparts, 13-5, in the All-Star Game Sunday to usher in the Baseball Philippines Series III tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

During my college days I got a summer job as a sportswriter for a tabloid edition of a major daily. Although I never wrote about sports for my school newspaper as I preferred the more mundane things associated with my school life, I leapt at the opportunity.

The first Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Ateneo-De La Salle exhibition game ended in a stalemate as the match was completed with the score tied at 90 Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.