Pacquiao shines in Dubai pickup game ahead of Mahindra-Alaska clash

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao played a pickup game with a group of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in Dubai Tuesday night, hinting at seeing action as Mahindra takes on Alaska Milk in the Thursday feature of the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Al-Wasl Stadium in the UAE capital.

Ahead of the Mahindra-Alaska tiff, Pacquiao formed his own team tangling with the West V-PGW team at the GEMS Wellington International School gym.

Pacquiao drained five 3-pointers in a more of a freewheeling game versus former MBA player Nonoy Sayon and his teammates including Edu Allado, Dexter Tabiano, BJ Javellona, Al Federiso and Reymund Resquites.

The eight-time boxing world champ flew in Dubai Monday ahead of the PBA delegation, including the Alaska Milk Aces who play back-to-back games versus the Mahindra Enforcers tonight then the Barangay Ginebra Kings Saturday night.

A large crowd that included Dubai Sports Council secretary general Saeeb Hareb and Philippine consul general Paul Raymund Cortes welcomed Pacquiao at the Dubai International Airport.

Pacquiao played in their season debut against Rain or Shine on October 25 then was conspicuously missing in their next game versus Talk n Text.

He made his first-ever PBA field-goal conversion in their 94-108 loss to the Elasto Painters.

“We’re forever posterized (by Pacquiao),” said ROS coach Yeng Guiao after the game.

Pacquiao debuted in the PBA last season, seeing action in four games where he got a point from the stripe, two rebounds and one assist.

The Enforcers seek to snap a two-game losing skein versus the Aces who chase a third straight win and a share of the lead with the Elasto Painters at 3-0 following earlier wins over the Texters (114-98) and the Blackwater Elite (87-79).

In three head-on matches last year, Alaska dropped one during the Commissioner’s Cup where Pacquiao and his troops were reinforced by 7-foo-3 giant PJ Ramos.

The Aces are heavily favored in their Dubai match with their intact roster from two runner-up finishes last season.

Still uncertain is when will Kevin Racal be inserted in their lineup. Fresh from leading the Letran Knights to the NCAA championship, the 6-foot-3 wingman signed a two-year pact with the Aces last Friday.

The Aces hope to score a twin kill in Dubai to make even more meaningful a grand ball Thursday at the Endurun College where they celebrate the franchise’s 30th PBA season.

Highlighting the event is the naming of the 30 all-time Alaska greats. Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abarrientos and Bong Hawkins, the top guns of the glorious Alaska era in the 90s, are likely to headline the list.

Other top candidates are Kenneth Duremdes, Jeffrey Cariaso, Bong Alvarez, Willie Miller, Poch Juinio, Ali Peek, Rodney Santos, Biboy Ravanes, Sonny Thoss, Reynel Hugnatan and Mike Cortez.