Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (R) talks to his coach Freddie Roach during a promotional event with his next opponent Chris Algieri of the U.S. (not pictured) at a hotel in downtown Shanghai August 26, 2014. Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against Algieri at the Venetian's Cotai Arena in Macau on November 22, 2014. Reuters

Manny Pacquiao must have it all. He is an eight-division world champion. He is famous for retiring legendary Mexican fighters such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Oscar dela Hoya. He is also famous in his country for recording two albums with some records used as his opening song for matches. The Pacman is also a congressman in his hometown and is prominent product endorser for different products not just limited to boxing. Now, you can officially add basketball player and coch to that extensive resume.

Pacquiao made his professional debut Sunday with Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) squad Kia Sorentos in the first match of the league's first conference. While the boxer was the crowd favourite during the spectacle which attracted close to 53,000 attendees, a record of its kind for Philippine basketball, Pacquiao was disappointing in his first appearance recording a solitary point via the free throw line including two turnovers in just seven minutes of action.

The decorated fighter was not able to launch any shots but drew the cheers of the crowd during the rpe-game warm-ups after nailing five of six shots including a reverse lay-up that triggered applause from his followers. The seven minutes that Pacquiao played was a part of the compromise the congressman had with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach who cautioned his ward to take it easy lest suffer a major injury which can derail his upcoming match with Chris Algieri in November at Macau. Roach also pleaded with the other professional basketball players to "take it easy" on the Pacman during the match.

"(If he plays more than a minute) I myself will take him out. I'm coming with him to Manila, sit on the team bench and act as the head coach with him as my assistant, " the American trainer joked before the game as reported by Yahoo PH Sports. "He can play as long as he wishes, if that's what it will take to make the fans happy. I just told him to take care not to get injured."

Even if Pacquiao did not register any significant statistical sheet, the debut can be somewhat considered as a success as he earned his first win as a coach of the Sorentos. And as Roach relayed, he finally fulfilled his dream of playing in the PBA.

(Youtube/czar julius)