From Baguio, Pacquiao endures Manila’s heat

Save for the heat generated by the morning sun, it was business as usual for Manny Pacquiao, who showed up all pumped up for training at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) on Tuesday after abandoning his camp in Baguio City.

“Medyo mainit,” Pacquiao told a couple of scribes after a 20-minute run around the track oval, less than four weeks before he shoots for Miguel Cotto’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Running alongside Pacquiao were rising bantam Rodolfo Sumabong, who is being eyed to appear in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Cotto headliner, and his pet Pacman, a Jack Russell dog that regularly joins him in his roadwork in Los Angeles.

It wasn’t really blazing hot even though Pacquiao arrived just before 8 a.m. since the sunrays were being blocked by thick, dark clouds.

Still, for somebody who has gotten used to the icy winds of Nevada and Southern California and the cool air of Baguio, Pacquiao just couldn’t help but complain of the heat.

“Siguro nasanay lang kasi ako sa Amerika mag-ensayo kaya ganito tapos galing pa ako ng Baguio,” said Pacquiao.

But despite the amount of sweat that trickled down his toned body, Pacquiao still managed to bring a smile on his conditioning coach’s face.

“Once he gets started, it’s hard for him to tell him to stop,” said Los Angeles-based Alex Ariza, who is in charge of making sure Pacquiao is in top shape.

In one instance, Pacquiao ran full-blast across the field with Pacman in tow, leaving Ariza shaking his head, knowing that the routine is not part of their regular training regimen.

Ariza said Pacquiao currently weighs 149 lbs and his main concern is to load him up with more muscle as they are about to enter the most crucial phase of his training.

Pacquiao is expected to use the facilities of the RMSC until Thursday since the venue has been reserved for an event of the Manila City Hall and Team Pacquiao members are looking at the Philsports or the Marikina Sports Complex as alternative venue for Friday and Saturday.

Pacquiao will leave for the US on Saturday night so he could resume his training at the Wild Card on Monday.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/225626/from-baguio-pacquiao-endures-manila-s-heat