MANILA, Philippines – WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is dangling a sweet incentive to the UP Fighting Maroons should the latter win a historic UAAP championship.
Pacquiao announced he will treat the Maroons to a free trip to the US to watch his fight with Adrien Broner if the Diliman-based squad beats Ateneo in their best-of-three finals series.
The Filipino icon will stake his title against the brash Broner on January 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (January 20 Manila time).
And he would be happy to have the Maroons ringside to cheer him on.
“This would surely inspire and fire up the UP Fighting Maroons to go for the most-coveted UAAP championship plum,” said Pacquiao.
The Maroons are seeking an elusive UAAP crown, which they last bagged in 1986. That squad, bannered by Eric Altamirano and Benjie Paras, downed the Jerry Codiñera-led University of the East.
Thirty years later, UP is back on the big stage after beating No. 2 seed Adamson twice to earn the right to face defending champion Ateneo.