Pacman, UK firm launch new darts line

MANILA, Philippines - The Manny Pacquiao darts line was launched in style yesterday at the penthouse of the elegant Midas Hotel Manila.

 “Great ideas start with great people,” said Jojo Claudio of Toby’s Sports, the main distributor of the darts line bearing the image of the Filipino boxing icon.

The new line of equipment, from bristle and soft-tip dart boards, soft and steel-tip darts, flights, shafts and surrounds, will soon be rolled out worldwide.

It was a great launch for the product, a partnership between Pacquiao and Target Darts, the prestigious darts design and manufacturing company in the UK.

Except that Pacquiao, due to his very hectic schedule, did not show up.

“Certainly there’s no prize for the guess-the-missing-person game,” said John McDonald, one of London’s great sports announcers, and the affair’s emcee, as he looked at the presidential table with one empty chair.

But he kept the show going, hailing Pacquiao as the greatest pound-for-pound champion in the planet, and that the new darts line is “not just another product.”

Rod Harrington, the darts legend from the UK with over 50 titles under his belt, was joined at the presidential table by Target Darts international sales manager Matt Gilewicz and Sports Resources Inc. CEO Rodolfo Claudio.

Harrington and company, who had already met Pacquiao a couple of times since they flew in for this project, was optimistic about the development.

 “Darts breeds discipline and respect,” said Harrington, who was at Gawad Kalinga Community in Smokey Mountain the other day to introduce the sport to its less-privileged constituents.

 “I can’t believe what I saw – children, big and small, throwing the darts perfectly. It only showed that they were all listening to us. In 10 years we might see a Filipino world champion,” he said.

 “I’m humbled by what I’ve seen. These kids obviously come from challenging backgrounds, and because darts is a great educational tool, I see a bright future for the game in places like this.’

Some of the great Filipino darters, led by Boy Gionson, as well as Philippine Darts Council head Andy Arrieta, graced the product launch.