JOE Lipa has denied rumors that he is joining Manny Pacquiao on the Kia Motors bench as consultant.
What he confirmed instead, was the decision of the boxing superstar to field a team in the regional basketball league which the former national coach is now forming.
A source told Spin.ph Lipa had a meeting with Pacquiao recently as he was reportedly being eyed as senior consultant of the expansion franchise that is set to make its PBA debut later this year.
Lipa admitted personally seeing the 35-year-old Pacquiao, but said they talked about the matter of the boxing champion making a commitment to join the coach’s new brainchild, the Countrywide Developmental Basketball League.
“Nag-usap kami ni (Manny) Pacquiao at sabi niya sasali siya sa Countrywide (basketball league). Magtatayo siya ng Saranggani team,” Lipa related to Spin.ph on Wednesday as he watched the University of the Philippines play Centro Escolar University in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup preseason tournament.
And as to the rumors linking him to a consultant position at Kia Motors, where Pacquiao had earlier bared he’ll be the team’s playing coach, Lipa had a loud laugh and said, “Hindi ko alam yan.”
The regional league being formed by Lipa is set to open this year, with ABS-CBN as its likely broadcast partner.
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