What does Pacquiao know about basketball coaching?

By Al S. Mendoza

 

WHAT is happening with Manny Pacquiao?

Or, better yet, what is happening inside the camp of Manny Pacquiao?

For, surely, even if Pacquiao was the ultimate decision maker in this newest twist of his life, you can’t take away the fact that what he just did is grist for copy – if not fodder for cannon blast aimed only at him.

And what did he do?

He allowed himself to be lured into accepting a coaching job in the coming 40th season of the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association).

Is he kidding?

It is not only a mere coaching work, it is a head coaching job.  Meaning, he will be head coach of Kia Motors beginning September or something.

Among those in his coaching staff are Glenn Capacio, Louie Gonzales and Rob Wainwright.

There is no formal deal yet about Pacquiao’s new adventure – or is it misadventure? – but the signing of the contract is now practically a done deal, according to my friend who is a top honcho at Kia Motors.

“A press conference to announce Pacquiao’s appointment as Kia Motors head coach will be held shortly,” my friend said to me on Wednesday, who spoke on condition I will not name him.  N’yet.

Frankly, I don’t care what Pacquiao does.  It’s his life. He can even run for president and I won’t give a hoot; he is a congressman now and so, who could stop him from aiming for the top post of the land one day?  This is a free country, anyways.

But then, even if one is a superstar like Pacquiao, one can never afford to be careless, reckless.

Oh, yes, one is afforded a degree of foolishness – like splurging at the casino at times with a certain limit to it – but to indulge in supreme stupidity should be a no-no.

How could someone who is completely a stranger to basketball coaching – at the highest level of the game at that as this is the PBA, Asia’s first play-for-pay for Chrissakes – barge into total darkness and hope to come out with flying colors?

Brutally speaking, what does Pacquiao know about coaching?

He can score a lay-up, maybe, sink a jumper from the perimeter, or steal a three, perhaps.

I can still do those things.

But as PBA coach?  What credentials does Pacquiao have to qualify him to hold that job?

His unprecedented 8 world boxing titles in 8 weight divisions don’t mean a thing to his basketball coaching dreams.

His 38 knockout victories in 55 wins don’t mean a thing to his basketball coaching dreams.

In short, Pacquiao is to boxing only as Jaworski is to basketball only.

Boxing and basketball don’t mix, as in oil and water also don’t mix.

Now, if Pacquiao wants to wallow in stupidity by coaching Kia in the next PBA season, let him be.

If that’s his wish – dishonoring his honorable name – amen.  Let it be.

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