What is it like to be coached by Manny Pacquiao?

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao, the 8-division boxing champion known the world over, made his debut as a playing coach for team Kia Sorento of the Philippine Basketball Association on Sunday, October 19. 

After he registered his first win in his new role – apart from being a boxer, a Sarangani congressman, and a showbiz personality – on opening day of the PBA’s 40th season, one has to wonder, what is it like to be coached by Manny Pacquiao? 

His players Hans Thiele, Reil Cervantes and opening day hero LA Revilla all agree that Pacquiao is “inspiring” and that they still get “starstruck” by him even if they’ve been training with him for months. 

“Exciting kasi para sa akin si boss Manny, atleta siya na lahat nasa kanya. Talagang gagalangin mo siya,” piped former D-league player Cervantes, who notched 13 points in the opener. (It’s exciting because for me boss Manny is an athlete who has everything. You will really respect him.) 

“It’s a humbling experience and a privilege,” was how former De La Salle playmaker Revilla described it. “(I was) starstruck at first and even until now.” 

“Sa simula starstruck pero nakaka-adjust naman. Excited kami na maging coach si coach Manny,” shared Thiele, who also said the world champion adapts well to the team. “Siya yung naga-adjust sa amin eh. Kaya medyo madali rin.” (At first we were starstruck but we were able to adjust. We’re excited to be coached by coach Manny.) 

Thiele held the fort for Kia during the first half of their first outing against fellow expansion team Blackwater Elite, as the Sorentos found themselves in a double-digit hole. He scored 9 of his 13 in the first half before Kia, sparked by Revilla’s hot hands, torched the former D-League champions with 38 points in the third frame to run away with its first PBA victory. 

Pacquiao as a motivator surfaced when his team needed to mount a comeback in the second half. 

“Sabi niya sa amin na matagal pa yan,” Cervantes recounted what Pacquiao told the team during halftime. “Basta ibuhos lang daw yung lakas kasi ito na yun eh, ilang months kami nag-practice para dito.” (He just told us we have plenty of time left. He told us to go all out because this is why we practiced for months.) 

For Revilla, the fact that he had a successful athlete as a teammate was enough to calm his nerves down and score 23 points and grab 6 rebounds. 

“It takes out pressure because you see a world-class athlete playing with you. It just tell you that you can play with anyone.”

Many fans believe Pacquiao to be way in over his head for taking on a coaching job for a professional basketball team. So far, according to his players, he’s managed to establish his own coaching style. 

“Motivator siya na coach. Mahinahon siya magsalita,” Cervantes explained. “Parang simple lang siya magsalita. Halimbawa, ‘oo pangit yung opensa natin pero maganda yung depensa natin, pero makakabalik tayo.’” (He’s a motivator. He speaks calmly. He speaks simply. For example, he says ‘yes our offense wasn’t good but our defense was alright, we can still come back.’)

And his style involves pulling from his experiences as a boxer to influence his team. 

“Shine-share niya lang kung ano yung mga dapat gawin para maging just like him and kung paano kami mananalo sa game,” Thiele added. (He just shares to us what we need to do to be just like him and how we can win the game.)

Despite his lack of legitimate professional coaching experience, Pacquiao has still earned the respect of his team for his accomplishments as an athlete.

“Para sa akin, talagang nakaka-inspire siya. Tsaka nakaka-starstruck. And yung work ethic niya nandoon. And pag nagsalita siya lahat kami nakikinig talaga,” Cervantes shared. (For me he’s really inspiring. I still get starstruck. And his work ethic is still there. And when he speaks, everybody really listens.)

“He’s a regular person (in practice) but then his presence is different,” said Revilla. “When he talks to you, there’s a magnet that your attention is sucked in.” – Rappler.com