Pacquiao's Other Passion
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 29 Sep 2011
BAGUIO CITY -- Passion.
That?s how Manny Pacquiao describes his penchant for basketball, which he plays daily. Except during the crucial stage of his preparation for a fight.
?Sabihin na nating basketball ang second love ko, next only to boxing,? the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion told this writer after his team ? Pambansang Kamao ? clobbered the Gov. Fongwan side of Benguet chief executive Nestor Fongwan, 109-96, Wednesday night in connection with the on-going Pacquiao Cup.
?Boxing, of course, is my first love, being the sport that extricated me and my entire family from poverty to what I am now. Boxing is my life,? the fighting Sarangani Congressman said. ?Basketball, on the other hand, is my happiness. The sport gives me the happiness in life. Masayang-masaya ako kapag naglalaro ako,?
?Nakita mo naman, apat na oras akong nag-ensayo kanina. Limang round na sparring. Sumuntok sa bag, sa double end ball and speed ball. Pero narito pa rin ako sa basketball gym at naglalaro,? the 32-year-old eight-division belt-owner said. ?Nawawala lahat ng pagod ko sa ensayo kapag naglalaro ako.?
?Basketball, you see, is the sport I use for my cross-training. Wala naman akong ibang laro. Dito sa basketball, nade-develop ko ang stamina, footwork, quickness,decision-making, etc,? Pacquiao stressed.
?Almost all the ingredients I can use in boxing, basketball can provide. Medyo delikado nga lang, kasi physical game, mas malapit sa disgrasya. Pero talagang hinahatak ako na maglaro ng basketball, kahit pagkatapos ng ensayo. Nasa sistema ko na eh,? he said.
Pacquiao, indeed, is so passionate in basketball that oftentimes, he would defy chief trainer Freddie Roach wishes for him not to play the game for fear of his ward getting injured.
?I cannot really help play basketball. Pero maingat naman ako. Ayoko ring ma-injure ako ng grabe. The kind that could end my boxing career, my only profession,? the present day pound-for-pound best explained.
Much as Roach would want his pupil of 11 years to avoid playing the game, especially during training, he has to accede to Pacquiao?s wish. On certain conditions.
?Manny wants to play basketball. He loves the game next to his profession.. And I understand that. That?s why our relation lasts this long,? Roach said in separate interview.
?Any relationship, you see, is a give and take affair. I give you this, you give me this. That?s how Manny and myself have been. I make him happy, he makes me happy,? the four-time ?trainer of the year? emphasized.
?You want to play basketball, fine with me. But when you fight, fight the best you can. That?s all I want not only in the case of Manny but in all the fighters under me,? Roach said.
Roach said that like in the past, the rule is: no basketball four weeks into the fight. Pacquiao is not the player though who plays the game just to play. He?s good at it and he showed it this writer in his team?s match-up against the Gov. Fongwan five where he made 25 points in 22 minutes inside the court.
The Pacman arrived in the game with only two minutes and-a-half left of the opening half inserting himself into the action without the benefit of pre-game warm up. He missed his first two shots but sank his third helping the Pambansang Kamao to a 57-46 lead after the first 20 minutes.
A string of eight points from Pacquiao gave the team a 98-85 advantage from a close 89-83. He ended the game with back-to- back treys that finalized the count.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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