Manny Pacquiao Next Fight, Net Worth & News: Freddie Roach Pleads PBA Players to 'Go Easy' on Manny

Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao's trainer, gave the boxer the thumbs up to play a professional basketball game on October 19 -- on one condition.

Roach said in a report by PhilBoxing.com, "Yeah, he asked my permission to play in the opening day for the fans, so I told him I'll allow him to see action for only one minute." He joked, "(If he plays more than a minute) I myself will take him out. I'm coming with him to Manila, sit on the team bench and act as the head coach with him as my assistant." He added, "He can play as long as he wishes, if that's what it will take to make the fans happy. I just told him to take care not to get injured."

DigitalJournal.com writes that Pacquiao is set to fight undefeated American Chris Algieri on November 22 in Macau, China.

Roach cautioned, "Any kind of injury that can postpone or completely cancel his fight can mean the end of his boxing career and all the years he's been in this profession of choice. I know how tough and sometimes rough basketball games here are and all I beg his would-be rivals is to please to take care of Manny. You can block his shots, steal the ball away, but please don't hurt him, if you, indeed, treasure him as your boxing icon."

According to Yahoo! Sports, even Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Chito Salud was concerned about Pacquiao's health. He reportedly told Manny, "Please do not get injured."

"Like boxing, Manny's doing this not only for his passion for basketball, but to make basketball fans happy. Much as I don't want him to play, especially in this period of preparations for a coming fight, I just can't stop him completely. He loves basketball so much in the same way that he loves boxing, so I'm giving that to him." Roach said in the same article by Yahoo! Sports.

Roach said that he only allowed the eight-division champion to play for the opening game. He clarified, "The permit is only for the opening day. We had just shifted training to a higher level and I don't want that interrupted."

Previously, Roach was not in favor of Pacquiao playing professional basketball as it could impede his success in the ring. However, he conceded that the October 19 PBA game was a lifelong dream of the boxing icon.