MANILA – Manny Pacquiao has decided to “retire.”
Not from boxing or politics but from his professional career in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Pacquiao, 39, said on Wednesday he was ending his three-year PBA stint and will instead focus on boxing and his Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
“I will no longer be playing in PBA. Retired na tayo diyan,” said the senator. “Mas pagtutuunan na lang natin ng pansin iyong boxing, iyong trabaho ko bilang senator at iyong MPBL.”
Prior to Pacquiao’s involvement in the MPBL, Blackwater Elite in the offseason tried to acquire his services as playing coach after he announced that he has parted ways with Kia Picanto.
An eight-division world boxing champion, Pacquiao was drafted by Picanto as 11th pick in the 2014 PBA Rookie Draft. He was then named the team’s playing coach.
Pacquiao appeared in nine games overall and had averages of 0.78 points, 0.44 rebounds and 0.22 assists in 5.78 minutes of action.
His career-high was 4 points, which he attained in a game against Elite during the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Pacquiao also played in the Stalwarts and Greats exhibition game of the 2016 PBA All-Star Week where he scored 9 points – 7 in the first half – for the winning Stalwarts team.
He is now turning his attention to his return to the ring on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where he will face World Boxing Association welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina./PN
