PBA at boxing career kayang pagsabayin ni Rep. Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Hindi magiging sagabal ang kanyang pagiging pla­ying coach sa Philippine Basketball Association sa kanyang paghahanda sa kanilang laban ni Chris Al­gieri.

Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni Pacquiao na may assis­tant coach siyang mamamahala sa Kia Motors habang nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pagsasanay.

“My training is still intense even with all of that,” wi­ka ni Pacquiao. “I have a very good assistant coach who will supervise things for me when I can’t be there. There are five assistant coaches and so nothing will be overlooked. We can do it all.”

Ang 35-anyos na si Pacquiao ang pinakamatandang rookie na nakuha sa nakaraang 2014 PBA Roo­kie Draft matapos hugutin ng Kia Motors bilang No. 11 pick.

Marami ang nagsasabing hindi mapagsasabay ng 5-foot-6 na si Pacquiao ang kanyang boxing at basketball career bukod pa sa pagiging kinatawan ng Saran­ga­ni sa Kongreso.

Samantala, inamin ni chief trainer Freddie Roach na nawala ang pamatay na suntok ni Pacquiao sapul nang umakyat ang Filipino world eight-division champion ng weight division.

Kaya naman balak ni Pacquiao na bumaba ng weight class matapos ang laban kay Algieri sa Nob­yembre 22.

“Manny hasn’t really carried his power up with him to 147, but he is a very big puncher at 140,” sabi ni Roach. “It’s a much better weight for him, to be ho­nest with you. He would hurt guys at 140.”

Itataya ni Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) ang kanyang suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) light welterweight crown kontra kay Algieri (20-0-0, 8 KOs) sa Nobyembre 22 sa The Venetian sa Macau, China.

Gagawin ang laban nina Pacquiao at Algieri sa catchweight na 144 pounds.

Kumampanya na si Pacquiao sa 147, 147, 145 at 145 pound divisions, sa kanyang huling apat na laban.

“I could make either weight, 135 or 140, easily,” wi­ka ni Pacquiao. “It would be easy for me. I am at 147 because that’s where the action is in terms of the op­ponent, but it wouldn’t be hard.”