Pacquiao as Kia playing coach?

Rep. Manny Pacquiao. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –Manny Pacquiao will dip his hands in another field: coaching and playing professional basketball starting the next PBA season.

Pacquiao, the only eight-division world champion, has agreed in principle to become the playing-coach of the KIA Philippines squad, which will make its PBA debut in October as one of three expansion ballclubs.

Columbian Autocar Corp. president and CEO Ginia Domingo confirmed that the company, which owns the KIA franchise, met with Pacquiao and said in a statement that “we are elated and excited at the possibility of our nation’s most popular and revered sports icon, Cong. Manny Pacquiao, becoming part of Team KIA.”

Pacquiao had earlier said he would play an active role with the team, but Domingo did not specify the role.

“We will continue our discussions and will announce our plans as soon as they are firmed up,” Domingo’s statement read.

All that stands in the way of Pacquiao coaching and playing at the same time is being picked by KIA in the Rookie Draft scheduled in August.

A source said that Pacquiao’s looming PBA stint is part of a deal where the boxing superstar will become the new image model of KIA vehicles in the country and in Asia.

The PBA said there is no way that Pacquiao can become a player in the league if he doesn’t go through the Draft.

The application of KIA, along with Blackwater (Ever Bilena) and NLEX (Metro Pacific Investment Corp.) to join the PBA was approved last month. They will form their teams through the expansion draft, the signing of unrestricted free agents, and the Rookie Draft.

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