Defense-oriented strategy seen for Pacquiao’s PBA team

Boxing champ turned PBA play coach Manny Pacquiao. Photo courtesy of Chris Farina / Manny Pacquiao’s official Facebook page

MANILA — First came boxing, then politics, and now basketball.

Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao is now aiming for a defensive foundation for his KIA Motors team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

“I will be choosing those who show right defensive stunts; we need their skills in our team,” Manny Pacquiao said in an interview for ABS-CBN news.

While his status as a playing coach is yet to be approved, the congressman is still confident that even without passing through a rookie draft, he will still be allowed to coach and play in PBA.

After the tryout organized for KIA Motors on Tuesday, Pacquiao said he has seen players that can be useful in their PBA campaign, adding that he has also picked several candidates to make up his coaching staff, which will be formally announced once the roster is complete.

“We have chosen a lot of assistant coach and we will be announcing it when it (the list) is completed. We will also at the same time announce it once the entire team is completed,” Pacquiao said.

When asked about reports of his invitation to Ginebra coach Report Jaworski to join the team, Pacquiao also said that talks are still on-going.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s brother, retired boxer Bobby Pacquiao and his nephew Rene Pacquiao ,also participated in a tryout at the Sta. Lucia Gym in Cainta.

With reports from ABS-CBN News