MANILA, Philippines – Expansion team Kia Motors officially started its campaign in the PBA without its head coach Manny Pacquiao.
The eight-time division boxing champion and Sarangani representative was not able to make it to his first order of business as a PBA head coach skipping the Expansion Draft last Friday to attend to his wife Jinkee, who was not feeling well.
It looks like it's going to be pretty much the case at least in Kia's conference debut as Pacquiao will be busy training for his upcoming fight against American challenger Chris Algieri in Macau on Nov. 22.
"Kung mawawala man si boss Manny, siyempre magte-training siya for his fight, ako naman focus more sa coaching. Ganun ang coaching setup namin at pag available naman siya, andiyan kami [coaching staff] para magtulungan," said Pacquiao's top deputy Glenn Capacio.
Capacio, who is the de facto coach, is no stranger to the pro league. He was a 14-year veteran in the PBA before venturing into coaching, leading Far Easten University to a finals appearance in the UAAP then became GlobalPort's first head coach in the PBA.
Capacio, who was known as a scrappy scorer and defender during his prime, said they're on the same page with Pacquiao as far as the type of team they want to build.
"Siyempre since Day 1 ang gusto niya is a fighting team. Pareho naman kami ng gusto ni boss Manny," Capacio told Philstar.com after the team picked 12 scrappy players in the dispersal draft.
Kia used its first pick in the dispersal draft on rugged big man Reil Cervantes, a former pro who drifted back to the amateur leagues after an unsuccessful rookie season.
Then they selected a combination of unheralded mix of veterans, role players and young guns who never had the playing time to show their stuff.
They got Mike Burtscher, Hans Thiele, Alvin Padilla, Jai Reyes, Paul Sanga, Angelus Raymundo, Eder Saldua, Nic Belasco, LA Revilla, Joshua Webb and Chad Alonzo in that order from the dispersal pool.
"Hindi naman niya (Pacquiao) inaasahan na manalo kaagad," said Capacio tempering the expectation on the expansion franchise's debut which received a lot of fanfare owing to Pacquiao's popularity.
Curiously, they shunned the likes of more heralded players Larry Rodriguez and Ronnie Matias in the expansion draft.
Capacio explained it was management's decision, saying both players’ high-salary contracts got in the way.
Without a big-time player, Kia would like to start from the bottom hoping to mirror Pacquiao's storied boxing career.
"Alam naman natin ang attitude ni Manny. Nagsimula siya sa wala, sabi nga dinaan sa sipag lang. So ganun rin ang gusto niya sa mga players namin, trabaho lang at ibigay ang best nila," Capacio said.
And Pacquiao will be there to provide inspiration and perhaps, lead the team by example even at least in practice after officially filing his rookie draft application also last Friday.
Kia hopes all the other teams will respect Pacquiao's wish to become a playing coach and his name will be available by the time its turn at 11th pick arrives.