From: Snow BaduaMay 8, 2014, 05:30 pm
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Manny Pacquiao says he has long idolized basketball legend Robert Jaworski and now wants to emulate his playing-coach role for Ginebra in the eighties and nineties as he makes his foray into professional basketball through Kia Motors.
FROM boxing champion to television host to congressman and now to basketball playing coach in the PBA.
Global boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said on Thursday he has reached an agreement to be the playing coach of Kia Motors when the expansion team makes its debut in the PBA on October 21.
“Yes, maglalaro ako sa PBA sa October. Playing coach ako (Yes, I'll play in the PBA this October. I'll be a playing-coach),” the eight-division world boxing champion told Spin.ph.
Pacquiao, 35, said the agreement was reached during a meeting with Ginia Domingo, head of Columbia Autocar Corp., distributor of Kia vehicles in the country, at the Pacific Star Hotel past noon on Thursday.
“Nag-usap na kami, wala pang pirmahan ng contract pero okay na kami (We've already talked. We haven't signed a contract but we've agreed in principle),” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao bared he has long idolized basketball legend Robert Jaworski and now wants to emulate his playing-coach role with Ginebra in the eighties and nineties as he makes his foray into professional basketball.
Asked what he can bring to the table as a PBA coach, the hard-hitting boxer expressed confidence that he is equipped with enough coaching knowledge since he has been playing the same role in different minor leagues he has played with his Team Pacquiao touring team.
The plan, though, still faces a roadblock since the PBA board had earlier shot down a motion to allow Kia and two other expansion teams - Blackwater Sports and NLEX - to directly tap players from the rookie ranks.
Under those guidelines, Pacquiao may have to go through the PBA rookie draft on August 24 to be able to suit up as the oldest rookie in the 39-year history of Asia's first professional basketball league.
However, Pacquiao expressed confidence that he may not need to go through the draft if he is a playing-coach of Kia.
“'Yung rules naman daw nila, pag playing-coach pwedeng lumaro sa team (They say the rules allow you to play for a team if you're a playing coach),” he said. “So 'yun ang aming pinag-aaralan ngayon (So that's what we're looking at right now).”
Pacquiao said he is set to sign a contract with Columbia Motors soon so he can start putting the pieces together for the team's first season in the pro league.
“Sa July pa naman ang (dispersal) draft,” said Pacquiao, a basketball nut who plays hoops as part of his cross training, even in the weeks leading up to his bouts.
Pacquiao also assured the plan to suit up in the PBA has already been cleared with his promoter, Top Rank big boss Bob Arum, who has reportedly extended his boxing promotional contract until 2016.
“Wala namang problema 'yan. Walang problema 'yan (It won't be problem with Arum),” he said when asked about the set-up with his longtime promoter.
Asked about fears raised by fans that his stint in the PBA may end up ruining his boxing career, Pacquiao said: “Coach lang naman ako. Maglalaro ako minsan, pero marami namang mga players eh. Importante manalo (I'm just a coach. I'll play once in a while, but there are a lot of players. The important thing is we win).”
Kia Motors, a Korean car company with major sponsorships in sports like tennis and football, has been silent about its plans since its application for a new PBA franchise was accepted last month.
A planned press conference on Thursday by Kia at the NBA Cafe in SM Aura was also cancelled for unknown reasons.
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Manny Pacquiao is now officially a member of the PBA family. After months of speculation, the eight-division boxing world champion took on the role of head coach for Team KIA, one of the three possible expansion teams in the upcoming 40th season of the PBA.
Governor Jose Chavez Alvarez of Palawan who also serves as the Chairman of Columbian Autocar Corporation appointed Pacquiao as Team KIA’s head coach during the press conference held at the Pacific Star Building in Makati.
“I’d like to thank members of Team Kia,” Pacquiao said in Filipino. “I’m very happy that I was selected as the head coach. I need to prove that I can also show my skills in basketball and not just in boxing, specially because I’m the head coach of the team.”
“Be on the look-out for what’s next. Although it will be KIA’s first time to enter the PBA, I promise that we won’t let you down.”
During the press conference, Pacquiao explained that the main reason for his entrance to the PBA is his love for basketball.
“Before boxing, I already loved basketball,” said Pacquiao. “When I signed my first boxing contract, I really though it was a basketball contract. That’s how I got into boxing,” he joked.
Pacquiao will now add PBA head coach to his list of responsibilities alongside being a Congressman and the reigning WBO welterweight champion.
“Time management and self discipline are the keys for me to handle everything,” said the multitasker when asked how he’ll juggle all of it.
Pacquiao also answered questions regarding his desire to be a playing coach with Team KIA.
As of now, I am the head coach. I’m still not decided if I’d play in the PBA. My focus is to get good players and create a good team,” he said. “Basketball is also a game of strategies so I think I’ll be able to use my experience as a boxer specially in training. I just hope all my players are ready for the training we will have.”
Pacquiao was present during the try-outs for Team KIA last week. Although he admitted that some players already have spots in his team, he clarified that it’s not complete yet.
“We have some players but our lineup is not complete. The draft will be in June and August and we may be able to get some players from there,” Pacquiao said pointing to the upcoming dispersal and rookie drafts.
Pacquiao was also asked if he’s looking forward to coaching against the likes of Tim Cone, Yeng Guiao, and Norman Black.
“Their players are Class A,” Pacquiao said. “The focus for our team will be to stop the scoring by playing good defense. I’m not saying that we will not be able to get good players but whoever we get, we’ll make it a point to make them better with our training which will be a mix of basketball training, boxing training, and plyometrics.”
According to the boxer, his experience in running a team in the Liga Pilipinas and in many commercial leagues all over the Philippines will help him deal with coaching in the PBA. The incoming coach already has the identity of his team all figured out.
“I want the team to play a fast-paced game but it all depends on our opponents,” Pacquiao said. “I need to get my players ready specially with their stamina. My priority are the fans the performance of Team KIA.”
From Y! Sports Philippines (https://ph.sports.yahoo.com/news/manny-pacquiao-officially-introduced-as-team-kia-s-head-coach-in-the-pba-065352271-nba.html)