Manny Pacquiao's next fight will not be on the boxing ring, but inside the basketball hard court.
The Filipino boxing icon was officially named as head coach of the expansion team that will enter the Philippine Basketball Association next season.
The Columbian Autocar Corporation, the official distributor of Kia in the Philippines, formally introduced Pacquiao as Kia's coach when the team makes its PBA debut in October.
Pacquiao's appointment did not sit well with most basketball fans in his home country, but the former boxing pound-for-pound king vowed to prove that he has what it takes to excel in his new career.
"This is going to be a huge responsibility but I am very happy. I need to prove that I can excel in basketball especially as head coach of the team," Pacquiao said. "It's KIA's first time to enter the league so we won't fail you. All basketball fans should look forward to our brand of plays."
Filipino boxing fans expressed concern about how Pacquiao's entry in Asia's first play-for-pay basketball league will affect his future fights, particularly his proposed showdown against Juan Manuel Marquez, Saul Canelo Alvarez, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The opening of PBA's 2014-15 season will be on October 19, which means that it will coincide with his training for his next fight scheduled on November 22 in Macau along with his duties as congressman of his home province.
When asked whether or not his new career in basketball will affect his focus on his upcoming fights, Pacquiao insisted that it is all about time management.
Actually, Pacquiao might not just be the team's head coach, but he could also play for the team, depending on the result of the league's annual rookie draft in August.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud also defended Pacquiao from his critics, insisting that the reigning welterweight champion's entry in the PBA will do good for both parties.
"There were comments and concerns regarding the possibility of Manny Pacquiao joining the PBA. Many of them have been genuinely to protect our national treasure," Salud said. "What we're missing here are the things that Manny brings - the wow factor, the pulling power."
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