Manny Pacquiao AP FILE PHOTO
HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao sure is giving serious thought to this plan of making it to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
He already has a jersey number picked out. “No. 17,” revealed the global boxing icon and congressman. Pacquiao’s birthday is Dec. 17.
“I might play in the PBA with Kia,” Pacquiao told Filipino sportswriters, confirming a story that came out in a news outlet that one of the three expansion teams accepted by the PBA would hire him.
Kia, the universal Korean car brand, NLEX and Blackwater (Ever Bilena) were accepted as expansion clubs recently, bringing the PBA roster total to 13.
Pacquiao clarified, however, that nothing is definite yet. According to a Team Pacquiao member privy to the negotiations, the deal will most likely involve an endorsement package.
Meanwhile, given a choice, Pacquiao will still pick the entertainment city of bright neon lights as the site of his next fight.
“I love Vegas,” said Pacquiao. “This is where my biggest fights started.”
Promoter Bob Arum, however, is threatening to cut Pacquiao’s ties with MGM after a falling out with its officials.
Arum got mad after posters of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Marcos Maidana showdown were prominently displayed on the lobby and gaming tables of MGM Grand.
The venerable 82-year-old may yet hold Pacquiao’s next fight at The Venetian Macao, where Pacquiao made an auspicious comeback by ravaging Brandon Rios last November.