But the Filipino boxing superstar will be visible in basketball games as he intends to be more active in his basketball coaching job in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Pacquiao is the playing coach of Kia Carnival (formerly Kia Sorento), one of the newest members of the PBA pro league.
Last Wednesday, Pacquiao joined his Kia Carnival at the Cuneta Astrodome to watch his team play against Barangay Genebra. It was the team’s second outing in the ongoing Governor’s Cup series.
Pacquiao arrived late in the game as his team absorbed its first loss in the series against the dominant Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
The Kia Carnival playing coach assured PBA Commissioner Chito Salud that he will be more active in the PBA in the coming days as he resumes his coaching job.
“I can focus on my coaching in the PBA,” said Pacquiao, who postponed his trip to General Santos City and Sarangani on Thursday where a warm welcome awaits him and his wife Jinkee.
Kia will face NLEX on Monday, May 18 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Pacquiao did not say if he will take over the coaching job for Kia on its third outing in the series.
Meanwhile, talks of a rematch happening next year against former foe Floyd Mayweather have surfaced following an unofficial disclosure that the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight generated more that four million pay-per-view (PPV) buys worth at least $400 million.
Based on his 60-40 purse sharing with Mayweather, the eight-division world champion is expected to receive more than $100 million from his May 2 fight against the unbeaten American fighter.
There is talk that the rematch will take place at the new MGM-AEG Arena which is under construction and slated to open in early 2016. The Arena can accommodate 20,000 people.
