MANILA, Philippines – Freddie Roach arrived under cover of darkness yesterday and jumped into a waiting van that took him straight up to Baguio.
Roach flew in from Los Angeles at 5:30 in the morning, and moved on for the 250 km to trip straight from the airport.
Team Pacquiao insider Joe Ramos accompanied Roach. It took them seven hours to get to Baguio after only two brief stops.
Also with them was Venezuelan lightweight Jorge Linares who is gearing up for an Oct. 15 fight.
While he?s here, Linares will serve as Manny Pacquiao?s sparring partner.
By the time Roach and company checked in at the Cooyesan Hotel along Naguilan Road, Pacquiao was getting ready to train.
Roach wasted no time, and went to the gym, located on the second floor of the hotel, to work the mitts with the boxing superstar.
?He was still in jeans. The clothes he wore as he came in were the clothes he had on while he trained Manny,? said Ramos.
Local mediamen were barred from entering the gym, and it could stay that way for the remainder of Pacquiao?s stay in Baguio.
Roach loves to train Pacquiao behind closed doors, even when they?re at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
It?s only on Saturdays that Roach normally lets people in, or when there?s an official media or public workout.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao started his high altitude training Tuesday morning with road runs at the Burnham Park.
