THEY are still talking about it.
Why did Manny Pacquiao have to do it?
Was there a need for him to do that?
What was the point?
I refer again to Pacquiao?s deplorable decision to play for Kia Sorento in the October 19 opening of the 40th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Even before he could hold the ball and play the most forgettable 6 minutes 46 seconds of his life in Kia?s game against fellow PBA newcomer Blackwater Elite, hotly debated was whether Pacquiao should play or not.
Almost all the people I asked, including several top Kia officials, said no.
Reason? Pacquiao has a fight coming up on Nov. 23 against unbeaten Chris Algieri (20-0) in Macau.
One Kia top gun said, ?It would be too risky.?
But as what had happened, Pacquiao defied all counsel for him not to play.
?God will not forsake me,? Pacquiao had reasoned out.
Thank God, he came out of the game unscathed, with his Kia team even bamboozling Blackwater 80-66 for a rousing debut in Asia?s first play-for-pay basketball league.
What about if Pacquiao got injured in that game, resulting in the postponement, if not cancellation, of the Pacquiao-Algieri fight? Who?s to blame?
First would be Pacquiao.
But would that be it? I mean, the buck stops at Pacquiao?s lap?
I think no.
Also to be blamed, I strongly believe, would be the top brass at Kia. And next, I would include the entire PBA officialdom. As level-headed, objective and, yes, supposedly intelligent homo sapiens, they should have exerted extra effort to stop Pacquiao from playing until and after the Algieri fight is done away with.
There?s but one justification for this: It is for the strongest interest of Pacquiao, his fans the Filipino people and, yes, to Algierie, and the rest of the fighters in the Fight Card. Include the promoters and the entire production Macau management of the bout. Imagine the money going down the drain had the feared injury befallen on Pacquiao.
Thus, this was an eye-opener, especially to Bob Arum, Pacquiao?s American promoter who is a Harvard-produced lawyer. From hereon, all contracts to a Pacquiao fight should include a provision disallowing PacMan to play basketball when a fight is coming up.
For Pacquiao?s own good; for the good of all.
