PACQUIAO WILL BE PLAYING-COACH OF KIA MOTORS IN PBA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 May 2014
"Fighter of the Decade" and eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao will be playing-coach of Kia Motors, one of three expansion teams set to join the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) when the pro leagues's third conference Governors Cup opens in October.
The PBA is the longest running professional basketball league after the National Basketball Association or NBA which is the premier league in the world.
The two other teams set to join the PBA are leading DLeague squads Nlex and Blackwater with each of the three new
ballclubs paying the PBA a franchise fee of P100 million each even though they failed to get the concessions they were requesting the PBA board of governors to grant them in order to maintain some measure of competitive balance.
In an exclusive interview with the Manila Standard and reporter Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN, before he addressed a jam-packed crowd who braved the stifling heat for hours to listen to Pacquiao who is now regarded as a "Preacher Man" at a praise and worship gathering at the Cuneta Astrodome, the congressman who is now a professional basketball player aside from being one of the greatest fighters of all-time and more recently a preacher was excited about his foray into the PBA. .
Pacquiao earlier met with executives of Colombia Motors who are the Kia representatives in the Philippines before he proceeded to the Cuneta Astrodome.
He said he will play as a point guard and plans to recruit players from the expansion draft in July and would also
look for assistant coaches.
The Standard learned that Pacquiao was eager to tap the services of former outstanding national coach and Ron Jacobs disciple Joe Lipa with whom he met last week in General Santos City where the discussed basketball-related matters.
Lipa told us he was totally impressed with Pacquiao?s sincerity and humility and added, ?this man is for real.?
Pacquiao plays basketball regularly as part of his physical conditioning for his fights and also because he has a passion for the sport and believes that his moves on the court enhance his lateral movements in the ring.
When informed that Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera told us "the fight I want to see is Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr," Pacquiao said "I like that, its great but Mayweather doesn't want to fight me."
Asked what he was going to talk about at the service, Pacquiao said "it will be about repentance and relationships."
Pacquiao stressed that "when you decide to follow Jesus Christ, your whole life must be given to God and to glorify his name."
When questioned about how he combats temptation considering his past wayward ways, Pacquiao said "I always put the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand on the ground and that's what I am doing. My armor is the word of God."
Photo (L-R): Ronnie Nathanielsz, Manny Pacquiao and Dyan Castillejo Thursday in Manila.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Past Week in Action 21 April 2025: Fundora KOs Badillo, Retains Undisputed Belts; Smith UD Germain; Kovalev Returns with a Win
By Eric Armit, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Bantamweight Anthony Garnica Scores TKO Against Aston Palicte to Remain Undefeated
Tue, 22 Apr 2025Higher Seeds New York, Denver Fall in Playoffs Second Games to Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Young Gildo: The Baguio Bearcat
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina places solo runner-up in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Female Amateur Boxing Star Sar’ai Brown-El Signs with Split-T Management
Tue, 22 Apr 2025Apolinario to fight Hu in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 21 Apr 2025Warriors Shoot Down Rockets, 95-85 as Celtics, Cavaliers, Thunder Take Care of Business
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 21 Apr 20252025 USA Boxing International Open Finalized on Saturday
Mon, 21 Apr 2025Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 21 Apr 2025Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
Sun, 20 Apr 2025