PACQUIAO PLAYS BASKETBALL AFTER DOMINATING ALGIERI
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 25 Nov 2014
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ? Nearly 48 hours after dominating erstwhile unbeaten challenger Chris Algieri in Macau, the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion played the sport he loves most ? basketball.
No, it wasn?t in the ongoing professional Basketball Association Philippine Cup, where is now the playing coach of Team Kia, but against members of his amateur Team Pacquiao in its practice game Monday night at his Pacman Gym inside his Mansion 2 residence at the City Heights Village this city.
?Medyo bitin pa. Kulang pa yung laban kagabi,? Manny Pacquiao told this writer in reference to his title-defending victory fashioned over 12 rounds and in 36 minutes, 48, including the one-minute rest in-between rounds.
Only a day ago, the Filipino ring hero kept his 147-pound title by punishing the title-pretender in an easy 12-round triumph marked by six knockdowns and most lopsided ever verdict, in the process dealing the American his first loss in 21 pro-fights, at the Cotai Arena inside the Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau.
After the rout and as referee Gino Rodriguez raised his hands in victory, Pacquiao, judging from his bosy English, looked to have asking for more action.
"Puwede pa sana ako, mga limang rounds pa, kaya lang tapos na ang laban,? he said wih a wide grin.
?Anyway, its good it ended that way with no one between us suffering any major injury,? he said. ?Iyon naman talaga ang dasal ko bago kami maglaban na sana walang isa man sa aming dalawa ang magkaroon ng serious injury.?
?Teka muna, lalaro muna ako, bukas na tayo mag-interbyuhan? Pacquiao added as he asked to be excused to change. ?Happy na ako,sabi ko naman sa inyo bago ako umalis, excited na akong lumaban, excited na ring tapusin ang laban ng madali para makalaro uli ako ng basketball.?
Hindi nga natin napatulog ang kalaban, pero naging maganda naman ang performance ko. And I think, as before, I succeeded naman in making boxing fans, especially our countrymen, happy.
Pacquiao played in all of the four to six sets that lasted for about two hours before retiring to address several pressing matters he left in the course of preparations and actual fight. Each set is equivalent to a 10-minute quarter.
Tama na muna yun, bukas naman pag may time before I fly for Manila to coach Kia in the team?s game against Purefoods,? the ?Fighter of the Decade? said.
?No, I?m not playing. Not yet, anyway. Ma-coach lang ako muna,? he assured. "Pacquiao and his team were brought back home by a pair of Air Asia flights. In flight # 1 where he and member of his family, VIP guests and media men were on, the Hall of Fame-bound ring master was on his feet most of the time, roaming around and exchanging pleasantries to fellow passengers.
Upon his and his team?s arrival, Pacquiao was accorded with a hero?s welcome complete with parade around the city?s main thoroughfares.
He also presided over a press conference with local newsmen in Sarangani with wife, Vice Gov. Jinkee in tow.
* Photos by Wendell Rupert Alinea
National boxing pride Manny Pacquiao is shown, playing basketball, greeting welcomers aboard the float at GenSan's Hero's Welcome ceremony, being escorted by military men at Gensan Airport and watching fans with placards.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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