Pacquiao getting into groove

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach was far more impressed with Manny Pacquiao when he left the gym yesterday than when he was more than a week ago.

“Yes, he’s much better now,” said Roach at the Elorde Gym in Pasay City after a relatively short sparring day for the Filipino WBO welterweight champion.

Pacquiao sparred a combined eight rounds with Filipino Leonardo Doronio, Australian George Kambosos and Mexican Adrian Young.

The session was witnessed by dozens of fans, including PBA stars Joe Devance and Chris Ross, and the fighting senator’s wife Jinkee Pacquiao.

It was the last training day in Manila for Pacquiao, who moves his camp to General Santos City today, and will conduct his training there until he leaves for Brisbane a week before the fight.

Roach said Pacquiao is getting to where he should be with less than a month before he faces Australian challenger Jeff Horn before an expected crowd of 55,000 at the Suncorp Stadium.

Pacquiao skipped his gym session the other day after going harder than usual last Thursday.

“Thursday was a little too much with nine rounds of sparring and nine rounds of mitts and he was tired yesterday then he ran hard in the morning,” said Roach.

“Today was a short day with eight rounds of sparring and four rounds of mitts. The combinations are coming back. Last week was just like the beginning. But he’s getting better with better sparring partners,” added the 57-year-old trainer.

After sparring eight rounds, Pacquiao did four rounds of mitts and some time with his abdominal exercises. He stayed away from the heavy bag and left the gym in casual clothes, and for a meeting with a high-profile Filipino businessman.

Pacquiao himself was satisfied with the way training in Manila went the past three weeks.

“Okay naman. Menor-menor lang para hindi ma-over (We’re making sure I don’t overtrain),” he told members of media.

“We’re trying to balance things,” said Pacquiao.

While cooling down inside the ring,  Pacquiao played imaginary basketball, flicking jump shots and lay-ups. He turned to the NBA, and said he was rooting for the Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals.

“Game two, Cavaliers, plus 10,” he said.

The old atmosphere is back inside the gym – Pacquiao cracking jokes and enjoying banter with those around him.

He turned serious when the recent attack at Resorts World Manila that claimed 38 lives came up.

“Nakikiramay ako sa mga namatayan at sa lahat ng mga nagdadalamhati. Magdasal tayong lahat (I sympathize with the victims and those who are grieving. Let’s all pray),” he said.

Roach said  Pacquiao  made up in just seven days what he couldn’t two weeks ago.