Pacquiao steps up training for November fight, confirms he’ll play during Oct. 19 PBA opening

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – World boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has intensified his training for his upcoming title defense against American Chris Algieri at the Cotain Arena in Macau, China on November 23.
This as his conditioning coach Justine Fortune arrived in General Santos City to supervise the nutritional regimen for the world champion.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, confirmed that he will coach the Kia Motors team during the opening of the Philippine Basketball Associaton season at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The fighting congressman also said he would play a few minutes during the game. “Siguro 2 to 5 minutes,” he said in radio and television interview.
Pacquiao has been doing light training for a few weeks now in General Santos City.

“Medyo intense na this week, medyo intense na tayo. Nandito na ‘yung conditioning coach ko na si Justine Fortune, so medyo ano na, seryosohan na,” said the Filipino boxer, top network ABS-CBN reported.
“Eto na, seryosohan na talaga,” said assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, who has been running Pacquiao’s camp so far with chief trainer Freddie Roach still in the United States.
“Dumating na ‘yung mga ibang member ng Team Pacquiao, dumating na si Justine Fortune, ‘yung conditioning coach natin, so tuloy-tuloy na ‘yung training,” Fernandez added.
According to the network’s report, Fortune will be in charge of Pacquiao’s plyometrics routine, and the trainer said his goal is to get Pacquiao “in the best shape of his life.”
“I expect a lot of pain, a lot of sweat, hard work (from Pacquiao),” Fortune said upon his arrival in GenSan.
Fernandez said they will alternate plyometrics with other aspects of Pacquiao’s training program to ensure that the boxer’s legs won’t cramp up, a recurring problem for the “Pacman.”
Sparring will begin when Roach arrives in GenSan in early October along with Pacquiao’s partners, Fernandez told ABS-CBN.
“Iniingatan naming na ‘wag masunog,” he said. “Mahirap na masobrahan sa training. ‘Yun ang kinatatakutan natin, ‘yung masunog sa training tapos pagdating sa taas ng ring, hindi na tayo makasuntok.”