GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Amid the drizzle, eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao went on with his early morning road run at the rubberized track oval of the sports complex in Calumpang village here.
Many thought Pacquiao would skip jogging when rain started to fall before daybreak on Wednesday morning.
Even media reporters covering his training were not around. They started to arrive past 7:30 a.m. when they learned Pacquiao pushed through with his training routine despite the rain.
The night before, Pacquaio played basketball scoring 45 points highlighted by 11 three-point baskets.
Pacquiao has been playing basketball since October last year to keep himself in shape.
“Basketball has always been part of my daily routine to keep myself in shape. I enjoy it and it helps sustain my speed and stamina,” Pacquiao said.
After the road run, Pacquiao went through a ball dribbling drill to further strengthen his hands and forearms.
“I decided to include in my training regimen ball dribbling exercise. This kind of exercise will further strengthen my hands and forearms,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao, afterward, performed around 300 sit-ups and crunches to harden his abdominal muscles.
Fernandez claimed mitts session at the Wild Card Gym would start Thursday afternoon.
“Mitts session would start Thursday afternoon because the boxing ring at the Wild Card Gym underwent renovation and repainting. Anyway, we’re ahead of schedule so no need to rush,” Fernandez said.
Pacquiao was accompanied by members of his training team; namely, Buboy Fernandez, his assistant trainer; Nonoy Neri, his assistant conditioning coach; and Roger “Haplas” Fernandez, one of his personal aides, in going to the sports complex.
Pacquiao went 10 laps around the oval on Wednesday morning.
Photo: Pacman included in his training regimen a ball dribbling exercise. Photo by Aquiles Z. Zonio.