MANILA, Philippines – Veteran sports commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz is in the intensive care unit in a hospital in Burlingame, San Mateo County after suffering a heart attack.

Nathanielsz was in San Francisco, California on his way to Las Vegas for Manny Pacquiao's fight against Jessie Vargas last November 3, when he felt chest pains and was brought to a hospital.

He later suffered cardiac arrest.

Nathanielsz, 81, was set to be in the commentary panel of the Pacquiao-Vargas broadcast.

The Sri Lankan-born Nathanielsz was given Filipino citizenship by then President Ferdinand Marcos in May 1973, citing his "long and continuous service to the Filipino people in the field of journalism."

He has become one of the most prominent sports commentators in the country, often working on broadcast panels for boxing matches and football games. -- Report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)