Manny Pacquiao puts on dominant display to stun defending WBA welterweight

champion Lucas Matthysse

The 39-year-old Filipino legend looked focused and busy from the opening bell and had the 15,000
fans at the Axiata Arena on their feet when he sent his Argentine opponent to the canvas. Manny
Pacquiao put on a dominant display to stun defending champion Lucas Matthysse with a seventh-
round knockout and claim the WBA welterweight title in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The 39-year-old Filipino legend looked focused and busy from the opening bell and had the 15,000
fans at the Axiata Arena on their feet when he sent his Argentine opponent to the canvas three times
in total with an array of clubbing blows. The southpaw dropped his opponent for the final time with
a brutal uppercut and the win, his first inside the distance since 2009, improves the eight-division
world champion's record to 60-7-2. Pacquiao set the pace early, probing for openings and moving
menacingly around the ring as he dropped Matthysse for a first time in the third round with an
uppercut after a flurry of punches had forced the Argentine onto the defensive.

Unable to gain a foothold against Pacquiao's swarming attacks, Matthysse (39-5-1) looked to land
on the counter but was forced to take a knee towards the end of the fifth round when he was visibly
shaken by a right hook to the temple.

The win, in his first bout since losing the WBO welterweight title to unheralded Australian Jeff
Horn in Brisbane a year ago, gives Pacquiao his 11th world title in an incredible career that has
made him a national hero in his native Philippines.
From the Bay to the PH: Stephen Curry's Manila Tour

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry made good on a promise he made to Filipinos three years
ago -- to return to Manila.

Stephen’s game-breaking approach to basketball has scored him legions of adoring Filipino fans
and followers from all around the globe who revel in every deep 3, every slippery drive to the rim,
every sneaky steal.

His popularity has transcended borders, languages and cultures, and nowhere was that more evident
than in Manila.

Stephen’s first day began with a more than two hour on court workout with his trainer Brandon
Payne. From shooting to speed and agility drills, Curry put in off season work as he continues to
prepare for the upcoming NBA season. After touring a Jeepney, he traveled to Mall of Asia for the
Under Armour Southeast Asia 3x3 Finals which saw he and his father, Dell Curry, on court for a
shooting contest with other local fathers, sons and daughters. The competition was fierce but Dell
and Stephen secured the win.

From a press conference with journalists who came from all around Southeast Asia to cover the UA
Brand House ribbon cutting to a skills competition shootout with his dad Dell, everywhere Stephen
went in public, his Filipino fans followed in lockstep, fascinated by the presence of the two-time
MVP and three-time World Champion.

The fans weren’t the only ones awestruck - Stephen himself was blown away by the incredible
landscape and cultural significance of the dense and bustling Manila.

Taking a quick tour of some city sights, Stephen then toured a Jeepney, the flamboyant WWII era
truck that still can be found transporting residents throughout Manila.

Curry capped off the day with a relaxing Filipino scalp massage at Titan and a visit to his shoe
brand's main store.

Before leaving the country, Curry dropped by the opening ceremony of UAAP season 81, where he
led the legions of student-athletes in reciting the oath of sportsmanship.

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Asian Games: Hidilyn Diaz wins first gold for Philippines

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines' first gold medal in the Asian Games, capturing the
women's 53-kilograms event at Jakarta International Expo Hall A in Indonesia on Tuesday.

The Philippines won 4 bronze medals in the Jakarta Games prior to Diaz's feat.

Diaz bested 11 other competitors, including compatriot Dessa Delos Santos, by lifting 92 kilograms
in the snatch and 115 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a total of 207 kilograms.

The Zamboanguena pulled a come-from-behind against Turkeminstan’s Kristina Shermetova, who

was leading the contest after topping the snatch with 93 kilograms.

Shermetova, however, was relegated to silver when she failed in her attempt to jerk 116 kilograms.
Her clean and jerk was listed at 113 kilograms.

Thailand's Surodchana Khambao won the bronze with a total lift of 201 kilograms.

Delos Santos, meanwhile, finished at 8th with 180 kilograms.

Diaz’s coaches Tony Diaz and Antonio Agustin knew that Shermetova was the lifter they had to
watch out for.

“The plan was to keep an eye on Shermatova, because the clean and jerk is Hidilyn’s strength,”
Antonio Agustin said. “Hidilyn has been lifting 115 in practice, so we were confident she would
pull this one off.”

Diaz said the win boosted her belief that winning the gold in the Olympics is highly possible.

“I am grateful to God that I won the gold medal that all of us Filipinos dream of,” Diaz said. “This
proves the Olympic gold medal is possible.”

Diaz stands to receive a cash windfall of P6 million — P2 million from the Philippine Olympic
Committee, P2 million from the government through Republic Act 10699, which expands the
coverage of incentives granted to national athletes and coaches, and P1 million each from the Siklab
Foundation and the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hoong.

“In the Olympics, no one expected me to win a medal. Here at the Asian Games, everyone expected
me to win,” she said. “For two to three months, I was on the edge. I hardly gotten enough sleep. But
I just kept on training and gave my fate to God.”

“I am grateful to God that He granted what all of us Filipinos have wished for,” she said. “It can be
done—an Olympic gold can be won.”

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