Manny mulls stint in PBA rookie team

HOLLYWOOD – Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is looking forward to donning a new uniform: a PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) uniform.

“Maglalaro ako sa PBA (I will play in the PBA),” said Pacquiao.

And Pacquiao, now 35, may just end up as its oldest rookie. At 5’6 1/2 he will also be one of the shortest players ever to see action in the PBA.

Pacquiao told Pinoy scribes here that he plans to suit up for one of the three teams that just joined the PBA – Ever Bilena, NLEX and Kia. He did not elaborate how he would join the team.

Kia is under Columbian Motors, and Pacquiao must be friends with its top brass. It’s where Pacquiao would want to strut his wares in the PBA.

Pacquiao is a basketball addict. He can play basketball every day.

During training camp for the Tim Bradley rematch, Pacquiao played basketball once a week, as part of his cross-training.

“Maganda ang basketball. Magandang exercise. Lalo na sa footwork (Basketball is nice. It’s a good form of exercise. Especially when it comes to footwork),” he said.

Within his mansion in General Santos City, Pacquiao put up a basketball court.

“Araw-araw basketball,” said the boxer, who even put up his own basketball team for smaller competitions. In his team are some retired PBA players.

Roy Jones, the former world champion, once played in a professional team, and shares the interest with the Filipino fighter.

In his early days as a boxer, Pacquiao loved to watch PBA games.

It was in the 90s, he said, and pressed to name names, he mentioned Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Nelson Asaytono, Marlou Aquino and Bal David as his favorite players.

Of the present crop of PBA stars, Pacquiao said he has yet to really know them.

“Wala pa ako masyado kilala. Pero noon, mas maganda ang PBA. Palaging puno ang games (I have yet to know the players. But the PBA then drew bigger crowds),” he said. 

If and when it becomes a reality, Pacquiao said he’d prefer to play the point-guard position.

And would don the No. 17 jersey.

“It’s my birthday,” he said.