Wimby champ eyes round of golf with Pacman

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning Wimbledon champion Andy Murray of Scotland has two good reasons to come to Manila later next month.

First, the winner of 13 Grand Slam titles will suit up for the Manila Mavericks in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) leg at the Mall of Asia Arena on Nov. 28 to 30.

Second, Murray wants to meet Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

“It’s a very special request because Andy Murray is a huge boxing fan,” said IPTL chief operating officer Eric Gottschalk yesterday noon.

“That’s why we’ve invited Manny Pacquiao and his friends. He (Murray) requested to us if it’s possible if we could reach out to him (Pacquiao),” added Gottschalk.

The IPTL chief said the 27-year-old Murray, only the sixth man in tennis history to win over $30 million in prize money, may also end up playing golf with his boxing idol, a golf buff himself.

“That’s the other thing. I’m sure they will arrange that,” said Gottschalk.

The STAR contacted Pacquiao’s business manager, Eric Pineda, about the great possibility, and the immediate reply was, “No problem.”

“Of course it will all depend on his (Pacquiao) fight a few days before and how his fight goes. He might be a bit media shy a couple of days afterwards,” said Gottschalk.

Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight crown against Chris Algieri on Nov. 23 in Macau, and, regardless of the result, should be home in time for the biggest tennis event the country would ever host.

The German official sat down with a small group of reporters at the Premier Lounge of the MOA Arena to talk about the coming event, joined by MOA Arena public relations officer Stephanie Henares.

Aside from Murray, of course, out to draw the fans, not only from the Philippines but neighboring countries as well are Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Eugenie Bouchard and Maria Sharapova.

Murray and Sharapova will lead the Manila Mavericks, which also include Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Carlos Moya, Daniel Nestor, Kirsten Flipkens and Fil-American Treat Huey.

The other teams that will figure in the event that will also have stops in Singapore (Dec. 2 to 4), New Delhi (Dec. 6 to 8) and Dubai (Dec. 11 to 13) are the Singapore Slammers, Indian Aces and UAE Royals.

Gottschalk said 70 percent of the tickets are gone with still over a month left.

“This place will be full. We’re pretty much on track. We see a lot of people traveling from around the region to the Philippines,” he said.

Three-day passes, which are transferable, are priced at P58,500 for VIP, P46,000 for patron, P26,000 for lower box, P13,500 for upper box and P2,900 for general admission. One-day VIP passes are pegged at P18,500.

Gottschalk said President Aquino and his family have also been invited to the show.

“We have invited the President. We’re waiting for his confirmation. But we’ve invited the President and his family. We would like to have the President here,” he said.

And the Vice President?

“We’d like to have them both as guests here,” Gottschalk said.