Heart of a champ to rev up team

MANILA, Philippines - Kia Motors is an expansion team that will have Manny Pacquiao as playing coach, hoping to feed on the boxing icon’s work ethic and fighting spirit as the rookie-laden squad looks for a decent showing in its maiden PBA season. 

 The Sorento, with Glenn Capacio as Pacquiao’s chief deputy, have set a modest goal of nailing at least four wins.

 “We’ve got scrappy, hard-working players who will give the other teams a good fight,” said Capacio.

“Our goal is to win four to five games. On where that brings us, it’s hard to tell. We have to be realistic this is the PBA. It’s a highly competitive league,” Capacio also said. 

The management is hopeful Pacquiao’s competitive spirit will rub on the team.

“I’m lending my name to the team. Hindi ako papayag na mapahiya,” said Pacquiao on a video shown during the official presentation of the team.

 “Success is a product of hard work. We’ll work very hard to achieve that in the PBA,” Pacquiao also said.

From the free agent pool and the rookie draft, Kia got Mike Burstcher, Hans Thiele, Rich Alvarez, Reil Cervantes, Angelus Raymundo, Chad Alonzo, Eder Saldua, Paul Sanga, Kenneth Ighalo, Joshua Webb, Rudy Lingganay, LA Revilla and Alvin Padilla.

“These are players all committed to work hard and try their very best to give all our rivals a good fight,” said Capacio.

“As a newcomer, we’re not aiming high. We give a good fight in each game and we’ll be happy with that,” Capacio also said.