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Philippine Showbiz Today
It ’ s no longer a surprise to many that after a gruelling , day-long grind on the road and inside a boxing gym , you still see Manny Pacquiao in a basketball gym playing the game second to his heart .
For Filipino international ring icon , you see , basketball is his way of staying fit , when not fighting and during lull in his training schedule .
The sport , which , incidentally , is the closest to his countrymen ’ s heart , is , in fact , his other passion , next only to his profession .
That was how the only man on earth to capture 11 world championships in eight weight divisions explained his penchant for the sport which he plays almost daily .
Except , of course , during the crucial stages of his preparation for a fight .
“ Sabihin na nating basketball ang second love ko , next only to boxing ,” the erstwhile world belt-owner of the flyweight , super-bantamweight , super-featherweight , lightweight , junior-welterweight , welterweight and junior-middleweight divisions has often told this writer whenever conversations turned on the subject .
“ Well , you , probably , have noticed it , basketball is the sport I used for my cross-training . Besides keeping me in shape , it gives me happiness whenever I play the game ,” he explained .
“ Before we left Manila last week on our way here , sabi ninyo ang ganda ng katawan ko at mukhang kondisyong-kondisyon ako inspite of my long layoff from boxing ,” the ‘ Fighter of the Decade ’’ honoree of the Boxing Writers Association of America for 2000-2010 said .
“ You ’ re right . When we opened camp almost a month ago , it looked I was already in fighting form .
That ’ s because of basketball ,” he narrated . “ Days after my last , which lost , basketball ang ginamit ko para makalimot at maka-recover .”
“ If given a chance depending on my schedule in he senate , I play the game for relaxation and at the same time remain fit ,” he disclosed . “ To a large extent , I really owe my quick and speedy recovery , for whatever , to basketball , without which , baka the injuries I suffered from my prior fights eh nararamdaman ko pa till now .”
“ Marami kasi nagagawa ang paglalaro ng basketball . For one , it strengthens my legs and my arms ” Pacquiao asserted . “ Basketball , you see , helps me recover my speed in both my hands and feet , besides helping me in making quick decisions , which I need in boxing .
“ Sa basketball , nade-develop ko ang stamina , footwork , quickness , decision-making , etc ,” Pacquiao stressed .
His passion for basketball doesn ’ t diminish though his love for boxing , Pacquiao , who also owns the world lineal titles in flyweight , featherweight , super-featherweight and junior-welterweight , reaffirmed .
“ Boxing , of course , is my first love , being the sport that extricated me and my entire family from poverty to what I am now . Boxing is my life ,” he stressed . “ Basketball , on the other hand , is my happiness . The sport gives me the happiness in life . Masayang-masaya ako kapag naglalaro ako ,”
To demonstrate his passion for the game , the father of five to wife , Sarangani Vice Gov . Jinkee , has also been the main man in organizing basketball tournaments . He was also responsible for the Columbian Motors acquiring a franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association .
Pacquiao is so passionate in
Why basketball is Pacquiao ’ s passion
basketball that oftentimes , he would defy his trainers ’ plea for him to reduce his time playing the game for fear of his ward getting injured .
“ I cannot really help playing the sport . Pero maingat naman ako . Ayoko ring ma-injure ako ng grabe . The kind that could abruptly end my
Pacquiao & other Pinoys pick Warriors to win back-to-back NBA title
“ Golden State is a team made up of players playing as a group who can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about .”
Thus , was how Manny Pacquiao describes the NBA defending champions Golden State Warriors that endears them to fans who value teamwork as what a team should be in a team sport like basketball .
No , hindi ako ang naunang nangaral ng pilosopiyang yan . Nabasa ko lang na sinabi minsan ni ( US ) President Franklin Roosevelt ,” the eight-division world boxing champion said . “ Which I believe all teams in all sports should subscribe to .”
“ That ’ s why since I saw them play , humanga na ako sa kanila at
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naging fan na nila ako ,” Pacquiao , who has developed a close friendship with sharpshooting Warrior Steph Curry , who ’ d been visiting him at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles while training for fights , explained .
“ You ’ re asking me who I think will win in the NBA finals between Golden State and Cleveland , siyempre Warriors na ‘ yan . Back-toback ,” Pacquiao said in response to a survey conducted by the MANILA TIMES .”
“ Besides the reason I already told you , hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in the U . S . and even here , or maybe millions , are praying for another Warriors win and I believe they will ,” Pacquiao added .
“ Marami kasing pinasasaya ang Warriors kapag nanalo sila .
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career . Lalo na ngayong ilang laban na lang at magre-retire na ako ,” the former pound-for-pound best in the world said . ●
Photos by Wendell Alinea / MP Promotions
At karamihan sa mga napapasaya nila ay mga Pilipino ,” he explained said in reference to the big Filipino community living in California , particularly in thr Bay Area , who ’ ve been part of the huge fan base for the Warriors .
Local basketball ’ s living legend Robert “ Sonny ” Jaworski , fellow former PBA MVPs Atoy Co and Bogs Adornado , Atty . Mamerto Mondragon and softball association operation manager Jun Veloso shared Pacquiao ’ s observations on the Warriors ’ team plays .
Barring injury to key players of both teams , I pick Golden State to win in six or seven games ,” Jaworski , former senator the “ Big-J ” or “ Jawo ”
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