A day before Columbia Autocar Corp. (CAC) confirmed it was formalizing negotiations with Manny Pacquiao to be part of Team Kia in the PBA, there was a report saying the boxing superhero would be suiting up as playing coach.

The report, posted at Philboxing.com, said Pacquiao would most likely be working as assistant to a former national team mentor once negotiations for his stint in the PBA are finalized.

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“We are both elated and excited at the possibility of our nation’s most popular and revered sports icon, Rep. Manny Pacquiao, becoming a part of Team Kia,” CAC chief executive officer Ginia Domingo said.

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Of course, practically everybody in the national basketball backyard got excited when word first got around last week that Pacquiao could be figuring in live action on the PBA hardcourt.

It was a startling sales coup (for Kia), by any measure.

The popular impression was that the PBA itself would gain from a Pacquiao stint in the national pro league.

There was however a minor jolt after PBA Commissioner Chito Salud was next quoted as saying Pacquiao would have to first go through the rookie draft.

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A source in the PBA media bureau told the Inquirer yesterday that nobody, regardless of stature and playing worth, can be excused.

“This is part of the official time-honored process, all rookies go through the rookie draft” the source explained.

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To clarify, it was stated that, based on the drafting order, Kia, at best, would be 11th in the drafting order.

“The drafting order will be based on the finish of the 10 involved teams in the past three conferences,” the source said. “The three new teams will then go through a lottery in order to determine the 11th, 12th and 13th in the draft order.”

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By the way, there was not a single dissenting voice among active PBA mentors who were asked their vote on the Pacquiao PBA stint by veteran sportswriter Nelson Beltran.

“If he’s good enough to compete in the PBA, then why not?” said Talk ’N Text mentor Norman Black. “He certainly will draw in the crowd.”

Nodding in agreement were Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine, Pido Jarencio of Globalport and Biboy Ravanes of San Miguel Beer.

Not to play killjoy, but incoming Ginebra coach Jeff Cariaso offered a word of caution while also happily welcoming the prospect of Pacquiao in the PBA.

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Cariaso said professional basketball is far too different from recreational basketball and the sport of boxing.

Meanwhile, there was one resounding dissent from the press box.

“Pacquiao guarding Tenorio or Caguioa?” asked veteran sports editor Joe Antonio of People’s Journal. “Sa boxing na lang, sana.”

A great fan of the late Fernando Poe Jr., Antonio swore there’s the danger of the PBA ending up with an eyesore.

Still, he said he’s for having Pacquiao in the PBA in any other capacity.

As long as they don’t hire him as fiery, fearless team mascot.

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