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| Manny Pacquiao returned to the sidelines for Kia as its playing coach. PBA Images/Nuki Sabio |
MANILA, Philippines — Kia playing-coach Manny Pacquiao rued his team’s 22 turnovers in the 95-86 loss to Barako Bull Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Carnival committed seven turnovers alone in the fourth quarter as they reeled to their third defeat in four games.
“Natalo, kasama sa laro yan (Losing is part of the game),” Pacquiao told reporters, who waited for the boxing superstar after the game. “Maraming error yung mga players. Maraming turnovers at tsaka miss sa transition (The players had a lot of errors, turnovers and misses in transition).”
The 36-year-old Pacquiao, who arrived here Saturday night after a stops in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, London and Washington in a span of three weeks, made his return to the sidelines for the first time in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
PJ Ramos, the 7-foot-3 center, anchored a Kia fightback from 10 points down in the fourth quarter—scoring half of his game-high 34 points in the final frame— and it appeared the Carnival were primed for an encore of their win over stunning Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer last Wednesday.
“They gave us a scare,” Barako Bull head coach Koy Banal. “I reminded my players that this is a different Kia team.”
Kia went 1-10 last conference, with its only win coming at the expense of fellow expansion team Blackwater, which is winless up to now. But through four games, the Carnival find themselves in the middle of the pack early in the conference.
Pacquiao missed eight games and made only three appearances for Kia in the Philippine Cup, as he focused on his training for the bout against Chris Algieri, which he dominated. The Sarangani congressman, though, didn’t play a single minute.
With no scheduled fight as of yet, Pacquiao looks to be more active in coaching.
“Oo, kailangan matutukan players. (I need to work closely with the players). Kailangan mag-focus sila sa training at sa game. (The players need to focus in training and in the game).”
As for his possible megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao offered nothing new.
“Hintayin na lang natin ang announcement (Let’s just wait for any announcement).”
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