The “Fighter of the Decade” assumed the role of a basketball coach and steered a team, composed of his assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and friends, to victory during an exhibition game on Sunday in San Diego, California.
The lone congressman of the southern Philippine province of Sarangani coached a basketball game between Team Pacquiao and Team Pogis.
The teams were made up of friends and family who sometimes play pick up basketball games with Pacquiao.
Team Pacquiao won 69-53.
Pacquiao is a known basketball fanatic. He co-owns the MP Pacman Gensan Warriors team, which plays in the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP)-sanctioned Tournament of the Philippines (TOP).
He also integrated basketball in the early part of his training for his November 13 fight against Mexico’s Antonio Margarito.
Filipino fans who attended the exhibition game in the US were thrilled to see Pacquiao in the flesh.
Pacquiao was presented with resolutions from local officials declaring October 24 as Manny Pacquiao Day in San Diego and the state of California.
He also received the keys to National City.
“I would like to thank all my fans who came just to see me. I’m not gonna play (basketball) tonight, I’m just gonna coach them,” said the world’s top ranked pound-for-pound fighter. – With reports from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News; Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America Bureau
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