Basketball, no roadwork for champ

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – Freddie Roach isn’t worried at all if Manny Pacquiao plays as much basketball as he wants.

The American boxing guru said spending so much time on the basketball court has always been part of Pacquiao’s training camp and is fine with him as long as he stops doing it four weeks heading into a fight.

Roach yesterday took questions why Pacquiao is getting away with too much basketball and in return skipping his roadwork.

For the third time in only six days here, Pacquiao played basketball at the Cooyeesan Plaza until late in the evening, after a hard day at the gym, and has already skipped his roadwork twice, yesterday included.

Roach said he doesn’t see any problem as long as Pacquiao works as hard when in the gym.

“Basketball has always been an issue. He’s always played basketball until four weeks before a fight. He’s only in his second week of boxing and he’s great where we are. He’s doing fine,” said Roach.

“This is all part of the game. This is training camp,” added Roach, who didn’t mind as well that Pacquiao left for Manila yesterday afternoon for his daughter’s birthday which actually came yesterday.

Pacquiao, a congressman, also had to deliver some speech somewhere. He just couldn’t say no when those who invited him should know better that he’s in the middle of training.

“I was told he’s coming back Sunday,” said Roach.

Roach dropped his smile yesterday when too many people were allowed inside the gym when it was supposed to be a closed-door sparring session.

Sparring was already on when people kept on knocking on the door.

“I’m gonna close this gym down,” said Roach.