Manny Pacquiao is arriving in Manila from General Santos City today to show up when lightweight Kia meets heavyweight Talk ‘N Text in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Still on cloud nine following Kia’s stunning win over defending champion Purefoods exactly a week ago, Pacquiao might see action against the league-leading Tropang Texters although just about everyone in his camp are hoping he remains focused on coaching and inspiring the players than risk injury.
Pacquiao is set to face Floyd Mayweather in a welterweight super fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and his fans and followers and members of his team are keeping their fingers crossed that he stick to coaching.
Last week, Pacquiao scored a point and handed off an assist in four minutes of play in the Carnival’s 95-84 victory over the Hotshots.
During that time, Mayweather hadn’t made a formal announcement about his May 2 showdown with Pacquiao and the brash US fighter only done so three days later.
Kia team manager Eric Pineda said that if Pacquiao decides to play, it will be another cameo appearance.
“He will be staying outside, away from where the action is,” said Pineda, who just came from Kia’s workout.
Pacquiao has actually kicked off the conditioning phase of his training in General Santos City and he intends to start training camp proper in the US in the second week of March, in time for the arrival of Freddie Roach from Macau.