Who’s afraid of KIA Sorento?

Sorry to say this but, as things stand, Manny Pacquiao, the dedicated cager, honestly can’t hope to land even a tryout slot with the New York Knicks scrub team in the NBA.

Remember how promoter Bob Arum quipped that Pacquiao, preparing for his world welterweight title defense in Macau next month, could go seek a slot with the Knicks—but only after he’s done with his next big bout.

Arum was, indeed, kidding. Just the same, Pacquiao got his wish as he was allowed to dribble and fumble for six minutes in his KIA Sorento team’s resounding debut before a record crowd of over 52,000 during the PBA season opener on Oct. 19.

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Pacquiao, no doubt, was instrumental in drawing the tumultuous attendance to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan where his team registered the season’s first win over fellow newcomer Blackwater Elite.

That astounding feat sent certified hacks swooning and screaming that Pacquiao did deliver perfectly in his PBA debut.

At the same time, it caused countless gullible fanatics to think that Pepito Alvarez, the KIA team owner, must be right in crying that Pacquiao critics would be eating their words because the boxing superstar will next prove “he is actually a very good basketball player.”

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KIA, in that opening-day game, came from behind and caught up in the second half en route to a win over Blackwater, but only after Pacquiao, as player-coach, had pulled himself out of the court.

Of course, Pacquiao deserved the big credit despite submitting zero stats in the opening day game.

Joy and fulfillment were all over his face during the KIA team’s victorious exit.

Alvarez was also overheard as saying Pacquiao should be able to show his full worth as a cager once he finds time to concentrate fully on his game after his Macau clash with Chris Algieri of the United States on Nov. 23.

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As could be expected, experts, who know a lot more about basketball than the overwhelmed KIA team owner, no longer bothered to dispute Mr. Alvarez’s strange claims.

Meanwhile, in its second outing, the KIA team got mangled raw by Barangay Ginebra in a one-sided contest that saw KIA nearly equaling the lowest score submitted by a losing squad in the PBA.

It would not be right to say that KIA fell in fragments after playing a mainstream team, but it was doubly hard to determine how the newcomer team could regain its footing.

Based on its limited worth, KIA would most likely be involved in a frantic race to avoid the league cellar against Blackwater, which had honestly admitted it would take at least two years before it becomes competitive.

There’s no hint whatsoever from Mr. Alvarez if they would ask Pacquiao to hurry back.

Something has got to be done, quick, in order to assure fans that KIA Sorento is no lemon.

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(FAREWELL FRIEND: There was a late-evening call [from Porong Cruz] the other day to announce the tragic news that Amando “Manding” Gerona, 65, has passed away. The former Purefoods EVP, a well-loved son of Santa Maria, Bulacan, will be interred in the town cemetery tomorrow. Prayer please for this great and humble achiever. Paalam, kaibigan.)