Pacquiao cites body pain for sitting out Purefoods game

RIZAL, Philippines — KIA Sorento playing coach Manny Pacquiao admitted he was not feeling well, which is why he opted to sit out his team’s game versus the Purefoods Star Hotshots on Wednesday, November 26. 

“Masama pa yung pakiramdam ko. Masakit pa yung katawan ko so hindi ko na pinilit,” Pacquiao said after his team’s 88-77 loss to Purefoods. 

“Sinubukan lang natin. Pinakiramdaman lang sa shoot-around.” 

(I’m still not feeling well. My body still hurts so I did not force it. I just tried. I tested it out during shoot-around.)

Pacquiao, 35, resumed his playing coach duties with the PBA team just 3 days after his win over Chris Algieri last Sunday in Macau.

KIA team manager Eric Pineda said on Tuesday that Pacquiao was slated to play Wednesday’s game at the Ynares Center in Antipolo but Pacquiao settled for coaching his team on the sidelines as they nearly upset the defending Grand Slam champions. 

“Hindi na lang natin pinilit. Kaya natin pero ‘di natin pinilit,” Pacquiao said. “Marami pa namang laro eh.” (I didn’t force myself to play. I could have played but I did not push myself. There are still plenty of games.)

KIA played well with the return of its playing coach and was even on pace to pull off a major upset over Purefoods as they led by as much as 52-43 in the third. 

But Purefoods hacked out the victory by way of a deflating 17-2 run in the fourth to spoil Pacquiao’s return. 

Pacquiao saw action for expansion team KIA during the team’s first game of the Philippine Cup last October 19 but left his squad in the hands of assistant coach Glenn Capacio as he prepared for his bout. 

It remains to be seen whether or not the Congressman of Sarangani will suit up in his team’s remaining elimination games.

KIA, which is now on an 8-game losing skid after winning their first game, will next face Meralco and then NLEX for their last assignment of the conference. – Rappler.com