REDONDON BEACH, CALIFORNIA – Jerwin Ancajas did light in training on Sunday and managed to incorporate a little bit of basketball twice in his hour-long workout at the Homewood Suites-Hilton here.
The super-flyweight champion of the world engaged trainer Joven Jimenez in several one-on-one plays to the delight of a small group of people inside the training room located at the ground floor of the hotel.
Ancajas also did some dribbling drills in between shadow boxing and mitts session with Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga and former Asian Games gold medalist Bobby Jalnaiz
The 26-year-old native of Panabo, Davao del Sur trained twice, once in the morning and again early in the evening two days before he breaks training camp and proceed to Fresno, California for his IBF (International Basketball Federation) title defense against fellow Filipino Jonas Sultan.
Boxing to basketball #jerwinancajas @spinph pic.twitter.com/lbjKauqZYT
— gerryramos (@gerardmos) May 21, 2018
Other than boxing, basketball is another passion of Ancajas, just like his promoter and idol, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
“Cross training ni Jerwin ang basketball,” said Jimenez, adding he had a basketball court constructed at his Survival Camp in Magallanes, Cavite for Ancajas and the other boxers under his stable to play together when not in training.
Ancajas is an avid Kyrie Irving fan and roots for the Boston Celtics to win in the ongoing NBA playoffs. In honor of the 26-year-old guard out of Duke, the boxing champ even named one of his children after the injured Celtics star.
Jimenez said it was he who influenced Ancajas to become a Kyrie fan during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But since being traded away by the Cavs just before the season to the Celtics, Ancajas has shifted his loyalty to Boston.
Still, he still has a soft spot for the Cavs, who currently trail the Celtics in their Eastern Conference finals.
“Masaya pa rin yan sir kahit manalo ang Cavs, although mas masaya siya siyempre kung Celtics ang maka finals,” said Jimenez.
“Ako Lebron James talaga ako,” added the jolly boxing trainer.