Team Pacquiao can afford a tuneup

Manny Pacquiao is definitely coming back to fight this year.

But before he even makes his first official move, it might help if he could first check on the condition, state of mind of his own team.

No, it can’t yet be likened to a headless chicken.

But as they’re all working around a comeback theme, Team Pacquiao must be made to regain its footing, find its core.

It has become easy to liken Team Pacquiao to a returning sea vessel with a faulty or missing navigational gear.

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It must first be made to determine where it’s headed.

Based on latest pronouncements, the team could easily be faulted for lack of sensible direction.

It’s both confused and scattered.

Notes the famous boxing eye Alex Groberman:

“The goofy befuddled look that everyone saw on Pacquiao’s face on Dec. 8 is the only one that can be associated with him and his camp at this point. They’re all dazed and confused. That is the only way to explain all the mixed messages, poorly thought out ideas, and conflicting theories that have emerged from his promoters, advisors, trainers and family over the past two weeks.”

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To each his own?

For starters, continues Groberman, Pacman rejected a recommendation to retire. Next it was said he would fight once this year, saving for a September showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez. Suddenly, they were announcing he would fight twice, in April and September later, possibly against Robert Guerrero or Brandon Rios; then came up the names of Jessie Vargas and Vyabcheslav Senchenko.

Of course, the most confusing shot would come from trainer Freddie Roach.

The multiawarded mentor, who has earned a new moniker Hollywood Freddie with his cute hairdo and love-struck eyes, said he would rather that Pacquiao just go straight into it.

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Professed Roach: “I don’t think a guy of Pacquiao’s caliber and stature needs a tune-up fight. He could get right back on the horse.”

Meanwhile, latest info said Pacquiao adviser and Bob Arum running dog Michael Koncz was headed for Singapore, scouting for an April venue as Pacquiao won’t be qualified yet to box in the US after he slept on the job against Marquez last time out.

A Manila fight for Pacquiao, Koncz was quoted as saying, is definitely out “because they can’t afford it here.”

Everybody, notes Groberman, was being made to decide—except Pacquiao himself.

Shouldn’t the captain be made to navigate for this crucial voyage?

Or should members of Team Pacquiao, especially its fumbling lead trainer, be required to have a Parkinson’s check first before they are made to pick Pacquiao’s next dancing foe?