Kia tryouts under Pacman

A COLLEAGUE was  at  a Parañaque  gym   recently  to  check on the   tryouts  being  conducted  by  eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao  for  Kia’s  PBA team which he hopes to lead as playing coach.

He  reported   that Pacquiao  had  played  three   straight   basketball   games   that   day  in  the  gym, marathon-style,  but   couldn’t really  tell   if   that  was  part  of  his  regular   fitness  routine  or  if  he   was  preparing   for  his PBA debut  this   coming October.

“He  played  with  the players  who were trying out,  many of    them   familiar  faces like Fil-Am  Rob Wainright and  the towering Mac Andaya,”   the   scribe   said.

Glenn Capacio   is  expected   to assist   him   in  the  tryouts   soon,   but   as   of  last week,  Glenn’s   transfer   from Globalport  to Kia   as  the Pacman’s   deputy   still  had   to  be  finalized, according   to Erick Arejola,  the PBA governor   of Batang Pier.

Of   the three   new   teams  in   the PBA,  only Kia   is  reported to  be  holding   tryouts.  Blackwater   and NLEX are   still  competing   in  the  ongoing D-League   and  may likely   end  up  fighting   for  the title.

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Because  the  NLEX Road  Warriors   have   requested—and   were   granted—a   grace   period  for  the payment  of  the  P100 million  franchise  fee, many people  in  the  basketball  community  are   now  speculating  that  they  may  decide  not  to  join  the PBA after   all.

Kia  has  paid  the  franchise   fee  in  full,   while  Blackwater has   worked out  an  easier  mode  of   payment.

For NLEX it’s  not  a  question  of  raising   the  money,  it’s  finding   an  option  to  make  their   team  competitive  in   the  league since   their   product does  not  need  advertising.

If  they  don’t  find  this option,  my  guess  is,  they  will  make  a  180-degree  turnaround. NLEX   was given  up  to June 7   to  pay   the  franchise    fee.

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Out  of curiosity,  I  asked  PBA media  bureau  chief Willie Marcial   if  he  had  a  clue,   as   of   this   stage,   which    PBA   team   would  pick first   in   next   season’s   drafting  order.

I   wanted  to  determine  if  this  team  is the  type  who  would pick Manny  Pacquiao  in the draft then sell  him  to  Kia.

Marcial   said  it’s   too   early   to  tell.

No,  he   doesn’t   believe   any   other   team apart  from  Kia   will  pick the  Pacman.

“Would   you,  if  you    were   the  first   to  draft?” I  asked Globalport owner  Mikee   Romero,  who  just   might  find  himself  in  that   situation  on  draft   day.

“Ha ha ha ha ha!” was  his only reply  on SMS.