LIKE the feeling of his boxing opponents at the receiving end of his knockout punches, Manny Pacquiao didn’t see his three-pointer going in during Mahindra’s 97-88 win over Blackwater in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday.
The Enforcer playing-coach, who buried his first career triple, said he only takes three-pointers in amateur leagues and only tried it on Sunday after being given some space by the Elite defense.
“Sinubukan ko lang yun. Hindi pwede dito sa PBA (na madalas),” Pacqiuao said with a chuckle. “Tsambahan lang.”
Pacquiao wound up scoring four points to surpass his career total, but he conceded that won’t get him more playing time in the crucial stages of the season-ending tournament.
The Enforcer had the luxury to field their playing-coach twice, first in the second quarter then late in the game when they were enjoying an insurmountable lead.
“Depende naman pag matambakan lang,” Pacquiao, who saw more than six minutes of action, said with a chuckle. “More practice pa.”
[See With first career trey, Pacquiao surpasses his career high]
But the Enforcer have yet to lose in three games when Pacquiao has suited up.
The newly elected Senator, however, played down his effect on his team.
“Hindi naman (ako ang swerte),” Pacquiao stressed. “Blessed lang ng Panginoon yung team at tsaka sa sipag ng players na nakikinig sa instruction ng coaches, so yun ang resulta.”
With or without him, Pacquiao expects his team to go deep this conference.
“Hindi lang sa playoffs, syempre ang goal namin is mag-champion,” he beamed.