PACQUIAO GIVES A SURPRISE GIFT TO A TEAM MEMBER
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 16 Apr 2015
HOLLYWOOD ? Tears of joy cascaded off his face after getting the biggest surprise of his life.
Mermann Dominion Flores, 35, had all the reason to cry. He did not ask. He was just doing his job but, somewhere along the way, his effort was appropriately rewarded beyond his expectation.
Last Monday evening, Mermann received an unexpected gift ? a Mitsubishi car ? from world eight-division boxing champion and Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao.
Mermann, a licensed basketball trainer here, has been helping Pacquiao?s teenage sons Jemuel Emmanuel, 14, and Michael Stephen, 13, hone their talent in basketball.
?Congressman Pacquiao asked me to test drive the Mitsubishi car parked in front of his house. So, I did it. When I went back, I said the car is okay and handed over to him the key,? Mermann bared.
Pacquiao returned to him the car key saying ?Take it. It?s yours.?
?I thought he was just joking so I insisted in returning the key. But, he smiled and told me it?s a gift. I hugged him, tears billowing down my face. I was shocked,? Mermann revealed.
Until now, Mermann claimed, the thought of having a new car has not yet sunk into his consciousness.
Mermann has been here since he was 12 years old. He has been a member of Team Pacquiao for quite a long time.
When Sarangani Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao and the kids arrived in Los Angeles, the Fighter of the Decade assigned Mermann to train Jemuel and Michael.
?Jemuel and Michael are so much like their father ? oozing with talent, humble and respectful. They are very nice kids and I enjoy every moment of the day that we?re together. They have great potentials in the field of basketball,? Mermann said.
Albeit, Jemuel and Michael shared the same passion but, Mermann noted, the duo have different talents.
?Michael?s talent is in ball handling while Jemuel is an excellent shooter. So, the duo could make a deadly combination in court,? Mermann disclosed.
Jemuel should have been part of the Central Mindanao basketball delegation to the 2015 Palarong Pambansa.
Jemuel comprised the first-five of the 14-man General Santos City Basketball Team which bagged the championship plum in the 2015 Soccsksargen (South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos) Regional Athletic Association (SRAA).
?I was not able to play in Palarong Pambansa as all of us in the family came here to support our dad in his historic fight on May 2,? Jemuel said.
When asked about the steady reminder instilled in them over the years by their great dad, Jemuel said ?To fear God and to remain humble and respectful to all people.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
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