EVEN Kia Motors is left guessing whether playing-coach Manny Pacquiao will suit up for the first time in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup when the Carnival play crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra on Friday.
Import Peter John Ramos though, hopes the boxing icon will do so as he has yet to play alongside the world champion in an official game in the league.
“Hopefully, he could play. It would be a good experience,” said the 7-foot-3 Puerto Rican big man, who leads the league in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 36.3 points and 20.3 boards per games.
Pacquiao has yet to join the Carnival in practice since arriving from the US last weekend, although lead assistant coach Chito Victolero said the team has prepared a specific play for the 36-year-old congressman from Sarangani province if and when he decides to play against the Kings.
[See Pacquiao begins road work despite uncertainties of Mayweather fight]
Victolero also stressed Pacquiao is already familiar with how KIA runs its plays.
“Di pa siya nagsasalita (if Pacquiao will play). Sana maglaro si boss. Di ko alam ano plano ni boss Manny, pero meron naman kaming plays (with boss Manny) and he knows it,” Victolero shared to Spin.ph after the team’s practice on Thursday at the Clover gym in Guadalupe, Makati.
Pacquiao came back from a two-week trip abroad on Saturday night, and immediately called the shots for the Carnival the following day when they lost to unbeaten Barako Bull, 95-86.
He will be going to the game straight from Saranggani.
Pacquiao has just played a total of two games this season, both in the season-opening Philippine Cup.
KIA currently carries a 1-3 record, its first and lone victory coming at the expense of newly-minted Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer, 88-78.
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