INQUIRER Sports

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines?The crowds were visibly so enthusiastic to see Manny Pacquiao when he arrived here past 9:00 a.m. that they simply shunted aside their basketball heroes.

The crowds mobbed the boxing icon, who flew here from Manila with such basketball icons as Vergel Meneses, Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codiñera, as soon as he stepped out of the plane.

The cagers came here for the GenSan leg of the Philippine Basketball Association out-of-town game series.

But their presence was overshadowed by Pacquiao, who was accorded another hero?s welcome by his fans.

Local officials led by Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. and South Cotabato 1st District Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio immediately shielded Pacquiao from the crowd and escorted him to the airport?s VIP lounge, where he spent about 15 minutes.

He then boarded a vehicle assigned to him for the motorcade, which passed through the city?s main thoroughfares.

Along the streets, people patiently lined up early and waited to get a glimpse of the ring idol and chanted his name when they finally saw him.

At the city hall, Pacquiao dropped by and took time to shake hands with supporters.

From the city hall, the convoy proceeded to Maasim and Kiamba in Sarangani.

While on his way to Sarangani, Pacquiao made several brief stops and greeted fans, who also lined up the highway.

At the Pacquiao mansion in Kiamba, the ring idol had lunch and gave a brief press conference afterwards.

From Kiamba, Pacquiao proceeded to the Maitum municipal gym and also met with supporters and fans.

He was to return to Kiamba late in the afternoon to spend the night there with his family.

Early morning on Sunday, Pacquiao will attend Mass and will grace the proclamation ceremony for candidates running for various positions under his People?s Champ Movement.