Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is officially the new head coach of a basketball team.
On June 9, Pacquiao was introduced as the head coach of the new Philippine Basketball Association team - Kia Kamao, an expansion team of Kia Motors. It was Pacquiao who thought about the catchy team name, writes Bleacher Report.
In a report by the International Business Times, Pacquiao said, "I'm very happy to be named coach of Kia. I really like basketball, even though I have many accomplishments in boxing, basketball is still in my heart."
Before the official introduction, Pacquiao has been busy holding tryouts and creating an effective coaching staff. Pacquiao also needs to look for players to complete the roster from the PBA draft and the expansion draft. Pacquiao's assistant coach will be Glenn Capacio, a former PBA star. Pacquiao will commence his coaching duties on October 19, 2014, just a month before he will fight in the ring again in November.
Pacquiao admitted that he loved playing basketball since he was a kid, similar to majority of Filipinos. Basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines, while boxing is second. Pacquiao shared that he has a lot of knowledge in the sport which makes him a potentially effective head coach. Previously, fans thought that he would become a playing coach. Pacquiao instead said that he wanted to focus more on being coach first. He said, "As of now, I am head coach. As for playing, we still don't know that. My focus is in coaching, to get good players and organize a would-be great team."
He also promised that his new role will not interfere with his next fight. Pacquiao is also a member of the Philippine congress. He said, "Just time management and self-discipline, I'll be able to handle that."
Pacquiao's presence on the hard court is expected to add throngs of fans to watch PBA games live and on television. Chito Salud, PBA Commissioner, said that any player who intended to play should join the official PBA draft, including Pacquiao. Salud said, "These past few weeks there have been so many comments, so many concerns regarding Manny's possibility of joining the PBA and many of these concerns, have been expressed in my mind to protect the interest genuinely of our national treasure Manny Pacquiao."
According to Inquirer, he added, "But I think what we're missing here is what does Manny really bring to the table in so far as the PBA is concerned? Of course there's the wow factor, there's the point of interest, pulling power of Manny Pacquiao. But I want to emphasize that Manny is the embodiment of what the PBA is striving to stand for. And what is that? Highest degree of excellence and sportsmanship with regard to fan and public interest."