Kia Basketball team to exemplify Pacquiao?s sports values
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 05 Aug 2014
A team that will embody coach Many Pacquiao?s storied campaign as the only man on earth to win eight world boxing championships in as many divisions awaits the basketball-crazy nation when expansion Kia Motors team plunges into action starting with the 40th PBA Season.
This was what team manager Eric Pineda vowed when he talked about the auto firm that will join the country?s professional league. Their team will be a manifestation of Pacquiao?s passion to the sport he loves most.
?In everything where Cong. Manny got involved himself in had been successful so, ganoon din dito sa basketball. If he was able to reap enormous successes in boxing, I?m sure he will do everything to also achieve the same result, especially this sports closest to his heart,? Pineda assured during last Saturday?s SPORTS SABADO forum aired over DZAR Radio.
The reigning world Boxing Organization welterweight kingpin himself has been overseeing the team?s tryouts and practices with members of the coaching staff that includes assistant mentors Glen Capacio and Louie Gonzales, for the past two and-a-half months since preparations started precisely for the purpose of what the Kia Motors Philippines is aiming for, Pineda said.
?Of course, one of the management?s aims is to use this as a marketing tool to promote its products, but what is more important, as Manny himself has been telling the players, is build a basketball citizenry worthy of becoming members, not only of the league,but Philippine society itself,? he added during the forum by PCSO, Rain or shine and Philippine Sports Commission.
?Si Manny naman, as he has been saying, was not that exceptional boxer when he started, but the discipline he got from training and hard work made him so,? Pineda said. ?This is what he?s been trying to emphasize to those trying to earn their places in the team. Maaring hindi man tayo kasing lakas ng mga beteranong team sa ngayon, pero darating ang araw na makalalaban na tayo sa kanila.?
?We?ll just be aiming for a decent finish, maybe win two or three games at the start of the season sa All-Filipino. Pero kung papalaring makakuha ng magaling na import sa second and third conferences, sabi nga ni Manny, baka mag-champion na,? he related with a naughty smile.
Some 20 or so aspirants been out daily from Monday to Friday, including the 12 Capacio chose during the dispersal draft held by the PBA two weeks ago, Gonzales, who accompanied Pineda to the forum, butted in during the discussion also viewed live via streaming at www.sonshinetvradyo.com.
?As Boss Eric here said, we are forming a team that can serve as embodiment what coach Manny is as a boxer, as a government official (a Congressman representing the Province of Sarangani) and plane but responsible member of Philippine,? Gonzales, son of the late Lyceum of the Philippines athletic director Tani Gonzales said.
?Main criteria to be a member of the team are skills, discipline, efforts most especially attitude, not only in playing the sport, but likewise, in leading their lives,? Gonzales explained. ?What we?re looking are players who want to prove in the kind of profession they chose and how they will conduct himself as representatives of the company.?
?Manny and members of the coaching staff believe that those trying out are capable of passing the grade as far as their playing skills are concerned,? the nephew of high-ranking Little League Philippine official Chito Gonzales ?Lahat namang nagggaling sa dispersal ay na-draft na ng iba?t-ibang team kaya kumbaga, may ?K? nang maglaro.
Kaya lang hindi sila nagamit. ?And that is also one of our aims, ang ma-save ang career ng mga bata so they can avoid suffering the fate of those who came before them na nalaos nang hindi man lang nakapaglaro,? Gonzales. ?Sinisiguro naming sa lahat ng nagta-tryout, lahat ay mabibigyan ng playing time, lahat ay may ng pagkakataong maka-shoot.?
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