Manny Pacquiao (right) could suit up and play for his Powervit Pilipinas Aguilas team in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), which opens its new season this October. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
KUALA LUMPUR — Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is not passing up on the chance to show his basketball chops in the Southeast Asian stage.
Pacquiao, the team owner of the newest addition to the ASEAN Basketball League the Pacquiao Powervit Pilipinas Aguilas, is planning to suit up for a few games in the regional tournament.
“According to him, we will play in some games. He will definitely play,” Aguilas team manager Bien Orilla told INQUIRER.net after the press launch of the new ABL season on Tuesday at the Berjaya Hotel here.
“As we all know that aside from boxing, basketball is really his passion, so the more games he play the happier he is.”
A playing-coach for the Mahindra Enforcers (formerly Kia Carnival) in the PBA, Pacquiao could slide himself down to the injured list to make himself available to play in the ABL.
Pacquiao Powervit Pilipinas joins two new teams and four mainstays in the ABL, which kicks off this October.
This is the newest basketball-related venture of Pacquiao, who aside from having a big involvement with Mahindra in the PBA also owns team MP Hotel in the PBA D-League and bankrolls the Letran Knights as team manager.
The eight division champion is a known basketball enthusiast who even uses the sport as part of his training regimen for his bouts.
“When he approached him about our plan to put up an ABL team, he gave us his 100 percent support,” Orilla said.
Pacquiao teams up with players based in Manila and Davao, who will make up the roster of the Aguilas.
“We want to expose local talent from Mindanao. We want to show their skills in the big league such as the ABL,” Orilla said.
Orilla said tryouts would be held this week in Manila and next week in Davao.