Mahindra playing-coach Manny Pacquiao finally makes his first field goal in the PBA. PBA IMAGES
Manny Pacquiao finally found the bottom of the net.
After missing his first six shots, Mahindra’s playing-coach made the first field goal of his professional basketball career Sunday against Rain or Shine to the delight of the crowd at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Tsamba lang (It’s just luck),” the eight-division boxing champion said of his breakthrough moment.
Pacquiao’s shot was a left corner jumper with Rain or Shine’s Chris Tiu coming in late to close out.
“We will be posterized forever,” Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao joked. “If you leave him open, he can make shots and its really an attitude that whoever you play in this league, you have to play your 100 percent.”
“Nagalit ako kasi matagal ko nang pangarap maka-score sa PBA. Naunahan nya ako sa pangarap ko (I got mad because it was a dream of mine to score in the PBA. He was able to beat me to my dream),” Guiao kidded.
While the Elasto Painters allowed Pacquiao to score, they made sure not to let the Enforcers beat them with a 108-94 win, their second in as many games.
The game also marked the first time Pacquiao saw action since playing against Talk ’N Text last Feb. 25 in the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup, a week before the former welterweight champion scored his first career point against Purefoods.
Feeling lucky, Pacquiao went for another crack at the basket but missed. He also had an assist before going back to the bench after playing for almost six minutes.