Isports ATBP.

Mackenzie Rae or Macky, our eldest, turned 11 last Friday. Yep! She turned 11 on 11-11-11. We're not that superstitious but my wife and I believe she'll have a bright future ahead if she keeps her focus and continues to believe in herself. We — our family of 4 (The Missus, Nathan and The Head Honcho) — celebrated 11 @ 11-11-11 last Friday at Amici's Megamall where we pig out on three kinds of pasta, garlic bread, Italian sausages, steamed veggies, and two types of gelato. We then went to Gateway to watch Puss 'N Boots where Nathan, our youngest, decided to turn Cineplex's Cinema 1 into his own personal playground. He caught the attention of moviegoers as some decided to watch his antics — jumping up and down the stairs, trying to hide from his sister, and filling the movie house with his infectious laugh. Enough of Nathan's toddler moments. Failing to watch the PBA game between Meralco and B-MEG was the only thing that ruined Macky's special...

My father is no boxing analyst or a sports expert but he believes Manny Pacquiao won the fight fair and square. As the challenger, my Tatay said, Juan Manuel Marquez could have at least knocked out Pacquiao. For my father, a former varsity basketball player at the Araullo Lyceum in Cabanatuan City and a longtime sports fan, a knockdown could have convinced the three judges to award the win to Marquez. A knockout could have erased the controversy that hounded their two previous fights and could have affirmed Marquez's claims that he defeated Pacquiao twice. He said the "unofficial" rule has been that way ever since he watched great boxing matches involving the likes of Leonard, Hearns, Hagler, Frazier, Ali, Foreman, Duran, Robinson, and Liston. Tatay, who will turn 66 on November 28, is no Quinito Henson or Joe Cantada. He stands by the three judges' decision, Pacquiao won on points. In his own words: Mas nakita ng tatlong judges ang laban kasi na...

I saw the PBA's only Captain (Alvin Patrimonio) during the birthday party of the son of fellow sportswriter Rey Joble. Macky, my 10-year-old daughter who'll turn 11 on 11-11-2011 (Friday), took this photo that's why the picture is a bit blurry. Hehehe. She egged me on to approach The Captain for a photo op after knowing that Patrimonio is one of my basketball idols and hard court heroes while playing for the Purefoods franchise in the PBA. I was a Great Taste fan before the then Ayala-owned team joined the PBA in 1988. Who would not support the Coffee Makers back then? Brown, Caidic, Paner, Victorino, Adornado and Tuadles are some of the cage greats that donned the Orange and Brown jersey. Too bad I missed the chance of chatting with The Captain, for I have to attend a previously scheduled engagement.