SINGAPORE—The Nokia RP U-16 team is already in the right mindset during its training for the Fiba-Asia U16 Championships in Johore Bahru, Malaysia.

Johore Bahru is the closest point to Singapore from Malaysia so the team was able to book a practice facility here, as all venues in Malaysia are booked for the month. The other day we all got into a bus to enter Johore Bahru and had a single practice to get a feel of the competition venue.

LAS VEGAS—Manny Pacquiao had a hat perched jauntily on his head, a bandage wrapped neatly around his right ear. His real work done for the night, he was heading down the Las Vegas Strip to sing a few songs with his band. Everyone was invited, but there was a catch. “Of course, you have to buy tickets for the concert,” Pacquiao said.

Not a problem. Anyone who watched Pacquiao cement his place in boxing lore on Saturday night (Sunday afternoon in Manila) by giving Miguel Cotto a terrible beating would have gladly paid a few more dollars to see him in action again, even if it was with a microphone in his hands.

Across town, his opponent was at the hospital, getting some tests to make sure Pacquiao’s fists didn’t cause any permanent damage. Cotto wasn’t taking any chances, and all it took was one look at his bloody and misshapen face to know it was a wise decision.

Manny Pacquiao was a sitting duck. He made sure his arms and gloves protected his face as he stood still with the ropes a hair’s breath behind. Miguel Cotto sent one, two, three punches that sent some of the Filipino’s sweat flying into the ringside area. The crowd gasped as they sensed danger. In boxing, a man may be ahead on points, winning, even, but one lucky punch right through a gap and the proverbial tables would have been turned.

Before the outcome of that meticulously planned script that 82 million Filipinos, along with Bob Arum and Freddie Roach, had planned for could be reduced to tatters, Pacquiao quickly slipped out of harm’s way as Cotto flailed away at the empty space.