PACQUIAO TAKES DAY OFF, PLAYS BASKETBALL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 20 Aug 2007
Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao took the day off from working out at the RWS Gym yesterday and instead decided to play basketball with the sportswriters in Cebu City.
Close friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today in a long distance telephone conversation that Pacquiao was in good shape at this point in his preparation for the rematch with legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera and there was no need to push himself in the gym. Pacquiao himself has said that he is able to build up his physical condition and stamina by playing basketball.
In fact Pacquiao told us last Monday that after the October rematch with Barrera he would start playing for his Pacman team from General Santos City in the on-going NBC regional tournament.
The stability and peace of mind Pacquiao needs while preparing for the Barrera rematch was further enhanced today when his wife Jinkee who promised us in a conversation last Friday that she would visit Pacquiao in Cebu, kept her word and checked in at the Waterfront Hotel with their daughter, Divine Grace.
Meantime, the first of three sparring partners brought in by celebrated trainer Freddie Roach, Dave Ravelo, arrived early yesterday morning and took a connecting flight to Cebu where Pacquiao is expected to begin sparring today. Salud said one of the two other sparring partners Urbano Antillon is expected to arrive today. Roach said that Antillon is the one who pushes Pacquiao hard.
Pacquiao has so far said nothing about the dismantling of a bar he set up at the Baywalk along Roxas Boulevard except that if he had to pay some dues, he would, just like he did in connection with his Porsche that was imported from the US. Pacquiao’s chief-of-staff Jake Joson and his business manager Eric Pineda have not answered calls as of press time although Salud hinted that Pacquiao’s name was probably used in the venture by an individual who was introduced to the champion by one of his advisers.
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