Off the PBA court: Say it isn’t so, Manny

Check this out: Manny Pacquiao, whose exploits in the boxing ring have become legendary, is not only going to play in the PBA next season — if plans don’t miscarry — but will be coaching as well.
The eight-division world champion on Thursday afternoon reportedly came to terms in principle with KIA Philippines to become its playing-coach when the 40th Season of Asia’s pioneering cage league opens in October.
That’s right. Playing-coach. Much like in the mold of a Robert Jaworski. Of Norman Black. Of Ramon Fernandez.
It could be a publicity stunt for one of three expansion teams that will debut next season. They could also be serious about it, who knows?
But in the end, when this circus does happen, what will it do to Philippine basketball in general and the PBA in particular?
Pacquiao, for all his great ring exploits and the honor that he has given his country, could be biting off more than he could chew this time. Basketball is a technical game and is learned after years and years of being into it.
People that coach and players who suit up in the PBA eat, breathe, think and hear nothing but basketball. These people have dedicated their lives to the sport. There are no ifs and buts about it.
Most Filipinos have played the sport at one time or another in their lives. Most have taken to basketball as their life-long hobby. But the ordinary Juan dela Cruz certainly cannot just make a jump into the PBA to play — much less coach.
Yes, Manny Pacquiao is an ordinary Juan dela Cruz when it comes to the PBA. He may be a VIP in every function he attends. He may command media attention whenever he fights or watches a fight.
But the PBA and basketball are entirely different animals.
KIA will be gaining a lot of awareness for this stunt. People will have a wild recall of the KIA brand once Pacquiao goes through with his plan to play and coach.
There are reports that all of this will be happening because KIA is set on signing Pacquiao to an exclusive endorsement contract, and that one of provisions in the deal is for him to be part of the car company’s PBA team.
The only thing that is not clear at this point is whether it was Pacquiao who asked to be named to those capacities or the other way around.
That put aside, the legendary boxer will get a feel of what it is like to play in the PBA in a shocking manner, I believe, for he will find all of his opponents willing to stop him, unlike in sandlot games with his friends where — I heard — they allow him to take as many shots as he wants in a game.
The PBA is a career for everyone in it, that’s the big difference.
Because if opponents get star-struck of the mighty puncher and allows him penetrations or jump shots during games, the poor boy assigned to play defense on Pacquiao will be out of the job in a jiffy.
Pacquiao’s career has been in the ring. He is now in politics, and both are jealous careers that require one’s time more than anything else.
What if there is a coming mega-buck fight?
What if Floyd Mayweather, that bashful American who has been taunting the Filipino ring icon for the longest time, finally agrees to multi-million dollar fight?
I don’t think Pacquiao will pass up the chance to finally shut the Pretty Boy up, much less miss making billions of pesos in purses and shares in the pay-per-view take.
Here’s another question: Pacquiao has been rumored to be very interested in becoming the Philippine president in the future. Will playing basketball and coaching help him in this goal? Wouldn’t it be better if he excels in Congress first before dipping his hand in another activity that could ruin him?
Pound for pound, Manny Pacquiao is undoubtedly one of the best of all-time. In the ring, not on the hardcourt.
A good analogy for this is if Asi Taulava — big at 6-foot-10 and around 280 pounds — asks to fight, say, Lennox Lewis during his prime. Or Larry Holmes, for the world heavyweight championship.
Taulava may take up a crash course on how to punch. But will those punches land? Worse, when a Lewis or a Holmes haymaker lands in the jaw of Taulava, it’s safe to say that — no matter how big he is — he’ll wake up in a hospital with no recollection of what happened.
We love Manny Pacquiao, there’s no doubt about that. Every time he fights, I feel proud that I am a Filipino.
But playing and coaching in the PBA will be a disaster. Just say it isn’t so, Manny.