Coach Pacquiao wins PBA debut
MANILA—Kia Sorento shocked fellow newcomer Blackwater Elite, 80-66, in the record-breaking opening of the 40th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the newly built Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The 52,612 fans who came to watch the first day action at the 55,000-seater Arena was the biggest in the professional league since its inception in 1975.
Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, the playing coach for Kia Kamao saw action for six minutes and 46 seconds. He started for the team along with Reil Cervantes, Richie Alvarez, Joshua Webb and Virgil Buensuceso but failed to make it to the scoring board.
“In the first and second quarters medyo sabog ‘yung laro namin. So, I told them at the dugout to fo- cus on the game and not to think of the big crowd. I’m so happy that we won, I hope tuloy-tuloy ang panalo,” said Pacquiao.
He said that it’s certain that he will not play in their next game against Ginebra on Oct. 25 in Lucena City because of his rigid training for his coming fight against American Chris Algeiri in Macau on Nov. 23.
“Maybe after the fight in Macau, I will play already,” added Pacquia.
Though it was assistant coach Glenn Capacio who called the shots for Kamao, his presence was enough to trigger a big run that moved Kia Kamao on top by 15 points, 66-51, early in the fourth quarter.
Kia trailed 21-12 in the first quarter.
Former Green Archer LA Revilla led Kia with 23 points—18 in the second half, while Hans Thiele and Reil Cervantes finished with 13 points each.
Juan Miguel Tiongson and John Paul Erram paced Blackwater with 10 points apiece while Bryan Faundo, Alex Nuyles, Rogemar Menor, JR Cawaling and Sunday Salvacion had six each.