by Nick Giongco
NEW YORK CITY – Blowing into town early-Monday morning after a 16-hour trip from Manila, Manny Pacquiao has already finalized the logistics of his training camp for the July 20 world welterweight war with Keith Thurman.
“One month before (July 20) I will set up camp in Los Angeles,” Pacquiao told the Bulletin before hopping on a 15-seater van that ferried him to the Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel.
The journey actually took longer since the Philippine Airlines A3590 jet took off from Manila an hour after the original departure time of 7:40 pm of Sunday.
The plane was set to land at 11:45 pm of Sunday here but owing to the bad weather, it had to circle around Ohio State before finally being given the green light to land at JFK International.
On hand to welcome Pacquiao was the father-and-son tandem of Sean and Brendan Gibbons, who were amazed by the warm reception given to the Filipino boxing star not only at the arrival but at the immigration area as well.
Pacquiao is scheduled to go face to face with Thurman on Tuesday afternoon but they might end up bumping into each other on Monday during a commercial photo and video shoot.
After the kickoff press conference here, Pacquiao will head to Los Angeles for another media affair at The Beverly Hills Hotel on Wednesday before flying back to Manila in the evening.
Joining Pacquiao in this trip are lead trainer Buboy Fernandez, training assistant Roger Fernandez, lawyer Tom Falgui, Senate staffers Choy Garcia and David Sisson and personal assistant Steve Jumalon.
