Pacquiao eyes PBA return vs Purefoods

MACAU – After his ring work on Sunday here, Manny Pacquiao is itching to fly back to the Philippines to get back to the hardcourt.  

Pacquiao does not want to look ahead past of his upcoming fight against the undefeated Chris Algieri but he intends to make a quick work and return immediately to his dual role as Saranggani representative and Kia Sorento’s playing coach in the PBA.

“After my fight, I have to go back to the Philippines and do work in the office as a congressman and focus as coach of Kia Sorento,” Pacquiao told reporters before his light workout on Wednesday at the training facilities of The Venetian Macau.

The whole Kia team will fly here on Saturday afternoon to watch their coach fight on Sunday.

“Aalis kami ng Sabado ng hapon tapos babalik din kami kaagad ng Sunday afternoon kasi may laban kami sa Wednesday,” Kia assistant coach Glenn Capacio told Philstar.com last Sunday.

Kia still has a fighting chance to get into the playoffs despite a 1-7 win-loss record as only two teams will get eliminated. They will play title favorite San Miguel Beermen tonight (Wednesday) and defending champion Purefoods Star Hotshots next week.  

After starting in their PBA debut against fellow expansion team Blackwater, which curiously, their only win in the conference so far, Pacquiao is raring to return to the hardcourt. He plans to return in time for their game against Tim Cone and the Star Hotshots on Wednesday next week.

“After the fight, we’ll have a game on Wednesday,” Pacquiao said.

But everything will all depend on what will happen on Sunday.

“I don’t know yet [if I’m going to play],” he said.  

But Pacquiao hinted that he will play more minutes once he recovers from his fight on Sunday.