Pacquiao vows to play better in PBA after Algieri fight

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao rued his lack of focus for his uneventful debut as a PBA competitor.

And Pacquiao, with his indomitable spirit, won’t stop trying, promising to be better in his return to PBA play after his fight with Chris Algieri in Macau in November.

“Sanay naman tayo sa balikatang laban sa probinsya. Medyo hindi lang ako focused dahil nasa isip ko yung Algieri fight (I’m used to fierce basketball competition in the province. I’m not just focused in the game now as I have my Algieri fight in mind),” said the iconic boxing champ.

The Sorento banked on LA Revilla’s career-best performance as they came from behind to beat the Blackwater Elite, 80-66, before a crowd of nearly 53,000 at the Philippine Arena.

After his appearance in Kia’s PBA maiden game, Pacquiao said he would now put his complete attention on his preparation for Algieri.

“I’ll be back (in the PBA) after the fight,” he said. “I know there’s nothing to worry about our team since my assistant coaches will be there.”

Taking the helm is chief assistant coach Glenn Capacio with a battery of deputies, including other former PBA players in Rob Wainwright, Chito Victolero and Mulong Orillosa.

Expected to take at least a two-week rest after his November fight, Pacquiao is returning to the PBA already towards the end of the Philippine Cup elimination round.

But he insisted he’ll be back, unafraid of possible injuries he may suffer playing basketball.

“Alam ko papatnubayan ako ng mahal na Panginoon (I know dear God will take care of me),” he said.

The top draw of PBA Season 40 opening game didn’t get the kind of game that he wanted.

He started at two-guard spot for Kia, committing two errors and a foul in just nearly seven minutes of action. He got to touch the ball only thrice, and twice threw it away.

After checking out toward the end of the opening period, Pacquiao, spent the rest of the night helping out call the shots from the bench.

With the game virtually in the bag for Kia with less than two minutes left to play, the crowd egged on Pacquiao to return.

He didn’t oblige.

“Masaya na ako, panalo kami,” Pacquiao said.

And for the record, Pacquiao just one-upped Robert Jaworski and Ramon Fernandez, the two PBA greats who lost their first game as playing coaches for Ginebra and Purefoods, respectively.