Pinoy fans love underdog Kia

MANILA, Philippines - The cheers are always louder for the underdog because it’s not as much fun rooting for the favorite. And so it was for the Kia Sorento as the expansion team battled back from a 13-point deficit to stun Blackwater, 80-66, in the first game of the PBA’s 40th season before a record crowd of 52,612 at the Philippine Arena last Sunday.

To be sure, Kia was not expected to win, at least on paper. The Sorento lost to Blackwater, 88-77, in a preseason game in Biñan and showed up for its PBA debut with six rookies, six undrafted players, journeymen who never got a break in previous PBA stints and a playing coach whose other profession as an athlete is boxing. Blackwater’s roster listed nine first round draft picks and the Ever Bilena franchise has glowing pedigree with a championship tradition in the PBL, WBPL and the PBA D-League.

Kia playing coach and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao was the shortest of the players from both sides. But he was clearly the most popular and recognizable figure on the floor. HBO sent a three-man crew to shoot the 5-6 Pacquiao’s first official pro basketball appearance. History was made that day as a new record for attendance in a basketball game was set in the country and Pacquiao became the oldest PBA rookie ever at 35.

Pacquiao started the game at the two-guard spot alongside quarterback J. R. Buensuceso whose previous PBA showing lasted three games with Globalport in 2012-13. Before the tip-off, media kept count on how many shots he attempted and made in warm-ups, a first in PBA stats history. Pacquiao missed 11 in a row then made three of four, including a trickler after throwing the ball on the board and picking it up in midair for a layup. When the game began, all eyes were on Pacquiao. On one play, he spun away from a double-team by Alex Nuyles and Larry Rodriguez and could’ve taken the shot from 13 feet in the middle of the lane but opted to pass to Buensuceso on his right. Buensuceso then made an extra pass to Rich Alvarez who was fouled going up for a shot.

Pacquiao was a marked man during his 6:46 on the floor. J. P. Erram, who’s a foot taller, jammed Pacquiao on a switch off a pick and forced a turnover. It was obvious Pacquiao didn’t want to risk unnecessary contact as on one occasion, he held back when Nuyles broke away for a layup. When Pacquiao sat down with two turnovers and a foul, he was done for the game. The crowd chanted his name, hoping he would come back with the outcome on ice, time down to two minutes. But Pacquiao kept his promise to trainer Freddie Roach.

“Manny told Freddie he wouldn’t do anything crazy on the court, that he would start and play only a few minutes in the first quarter,” said Kia team manager Eric Pineda. “It never crossed his mind to go back to the game even in the last two minutes. The PBA fans showed love and respect for Manny and he really appreciated the warm reception. After the game, he told the players he’ll be back after the (Chris) Algieri fight, that he’ll play more and be better prepared. He also told them to keep winning and that if they do, he’ll make sure they have a merry Christmas.”

Pineda said Pacquiao delivered an inspiring message in the dugout at the half with Kia trailing, 34-25. “Manny wasn’t angry, didn’t scold anyone,” he said. “He told them it’s understandable that they were nervous in the first half, that he was, too, because it’s their first game together in front a huge crowd. He motivated the guys, inspired them, telling them if they do what they did at practice, they’ll win for sure, to forget the crowd, relax, enjoy the moment.”

Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy said the Elite lost steam in the third quarter. “We were out-run, out-gunned and out-hustled,” he said. “Kia knocked us out, no doubt about it. Kia is more conditioned. We’ll adjust and come back stronger. It’s part of our learning. When it was over, I congratulated Manny, telling him he’s got a strong team and he told me they just got lucky.”

Sy and Pacquiao go back a long way. In 2000, Sy offered to buy out Pacquiao’s contract for P1 million but the deal fell through. A few years before, Sy used to pay Pacquiao P200 to jog three hours with Asi Taulava, then playing for Blu Detergent in the PBL, around PICC. Sy would fetch Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee from the Doña Josefa Apartments on Quirino Avenue where they stayed during visits to Manila from General Santos City. Once, Sy picked them up in his new Ford Expedition and Pacquiao, at the time still a prospect, wondered when he could afford to buy a vehicle like that.

Columbian Autocar Corp. president and Kia PBA governor Ginia Domingo said the Sorento’s win was a big morale booster. “I believe it delivered the statement that we have the heart and determination to win a game,” she said. “Cong. Manny is the biggest inspiration to the team. While we all know that his focus is on his training for the Nov. 23 fight, he also didn’t fail to check on how our players are doing during team training and practice games, making sure that they’re in good shape for our game against Blackwater.”

Pineda said Pacquiao’s influence rubbed off on the players. “Let’s face it, our only hope to win is to outwork the other team,” he said. “We don’t have superstars. We’ve got players who know their roles in our system. Manny told the guys he’s not really a good boxer but because he works so hard in training, he wins fights. If his fight is for 12 rounds, he trains like it’s for 36 rounds. In the same way, he told the guys not to train for a 48-mintue game but for a 96-minute game. Manny wants us to be best conditioned team in the PBA, to sustain our intensity from start to finish. That’s why we rotate our players quickly, to keep the pace high with fresh legs. We beat Blackwater with intensity and hustle. We’re out there to get every possession, to dive for every loose ball, to battle for every rebound. That’s how Manny wants it.”