PBA: Coach Pacquiao impressed with Kia despite eighth straight loss

 

An inspired Kia Sorento gave Purefoods all it could handle on Wednesday night before faltering down the stretch to the PBA's defending Grand Slam champions.

 

The reason for the inspiration: the return of playing coach Manny Pacquiao, who made his return just days after defeating Chris Algieri.

 

While Pacquiao did not see action, his presence on the sidelines was enough to buoy the spirits of Kia, which controlled the game until the fourth quarter.

 

"Maganda 'yung pinakita ng mga players," Pacquiao told reporters after the game. "Maganda 'yung depensa nila. 'Yun lang sa last quarter medyo naubusan ng stamina."

 

Kia led by as much as nine points, 52-43, and gave Purefoods quite a scare before turnovers in the fourth doomed the Sorento.

 

"Nag-collapse lang kami," said Pacquiao, whose team lost its eighth straight assignment. "Naubusan ng stamina nung fourth quarter so improve na lang namin 'yung stamina namin." — JST, GMA News