PBA Finals: With tiebreaker looming, Meralco tries to dig out more points


Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome during Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Producing the best scoring game of his PBA career with 40 points provided little silver lining for Meralco’s Chris Newsome after San Miguel Beer evened things up at 2-2 in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

“It’s great that I scored 40, but the win is definitely more important,” Newsome said after the Game 4 defeat on Wednesday night.

Newsome and the Bolts have another crack at getting a third win, and closer to their first-ever PBA title, in Friday’s pivotal fifth game of the series at Smart Araneta Coliseum. But not only will the Bolts face the pressure of a tied series, they will enter the 7:30 p.m. contest in urgent need of a plan to figure out how to counter the adjustments San Miguel made in getting a 111-101 win two nights earlier.

The scoreline already offers a clue to how the Beermen succeeded in solving the Bolts defensive schemes. For the first time in the series, a team won by scoring at least 100 points.

A grindout, defensive affair has often favored the Bolts throughout their playoff run, and that was the reason Meralco won two of the first three games of the Finals.

But the Beermen finally showed their offensive juggernaut that they have been known for throughout the two-conference season.

June Mar Fajardo’s 28 points epitomized why there are now cracks in the vaunted Meralco defense that centered on making life miserable for the newly crowned Best Player of the Conference, while CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter continued their consistent form in the series.

Balanced offense is key

And then the minutes provided by Vic Manuel and Terrence Romeo, who both played for the first time in the Finals, also proved vital.

“[San Miguel scoring 111 points] is definitely more than what we’re used to giving up,” Newsome said. “We have to go back and play Meralco basketball which is defensive-minded and I think we lost a bit of that [in Game 4].”Balanced offense will also be key for the Bolts as Newsome’s scoring output overshadowed a lack of support from some of the team’s key sources for baskets.

Allein Maliksi and Bong Quinto could only combine for 15 points on 5-of-19 shooting in Game 4. Both had scoring averages of at least 10 in the first three games.

Beermen coach Jorge Gallent wouldn’t mind making that a trend.

“As long as the rest don’t score, we’re fine,” said Gallent, who will also be wary of other Meralco players picking up the slack like Cliff Hodge.

Aside from being a pest on defense, Hodge has put up 14.8 points a game in the Finals, third on the team behind Newsome and guard Chris Banchero (16.3).

Celtics hold off Mavericks for commanding 3-0 NBA Finals lead


Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, left, is hugged by guard Jaylen Brown after they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-99 in Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

SCHEDULE: NBA Finals 2024 Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks

DALLAS — Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, Jaylen Brown had 30 and the Boston Celtics held off a furious Dallas rally to reach the brink of a record 18th championship with a 106-99 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night for a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

Brown finished with eight rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics extended their franchise record with a 10th consecutive playoff victory and moved to 7-0 on the road this postseason. They can win the series and break a tie with the Lakers for most NBA championships with a victory Friday in Dallas.

Boston also improved to 10-1 in these playoffs without Kristaps Porzingis after the 7-foot-2 Latvian was ruled out about two hours before the game because of a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg sustained in Game 2.

The status of Porzingis for the rest of the series appears in doubt, but it might not matter. None of the previous 156 teams to face a 3-0 deficit has rallied to win an NBA playoff series.

The Mavericks almost pulled off a crazy comeback to avoid the big hole — 13 years after the only other rally to match it in the NBA Finals sparked Dallas’ run to its only title against Miami.

LIVE UPDATES: NBA Finals Game 3 Celtics vs Mavericks

Boston led 91-70 at the end of a 20-5 run early in the fourth quarter before Dallas answered with a 22-2 spurt to get within a point with 3 1/2 minutes remaining.

Problem was, Luka Doncic picked up his sixth foul with 4:12 remaining when a challenge was unsuccessful before Kyrie Irving, who scored 35 points, hit a jumper to get Dallas within one.

Tatum and Brown saved the Celtics from there, with some help from Derrick White, who scored 16. Those three combined for the remaining 13 Boston points to get the Celtics within a victory of their first title since 2008, and just the second since 1986.

In a game that seemed over early in the fourth, the score was stuck on 93-90 for more than three minutes. That included when Doncic was called for a blocking foul on a driving Brown.

The Mavericks had nothing to lose with the challenge, since it meant trying to save their superstar from disqualification.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis out of Game 3 due to rare tendon injury

Without Doncic, Dallas managed to get within two before Brown hit a pullup jumper with a minute to go. P.J. Washington Jr., Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. each missed a 3-pointer in the final minute as Irving’s personal losing streak against his former team reached 13 games.

An energized Dallas crowd was ready for its first finals game in 13 years, with Super Bowl-winning quarterback and Mavs fan Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs frequently getting out of his seat near midcourt.

The Mavericks used the needed boost coming off two losses in Boston, taking their biggest lead of the series while running out to a 22-9 lead. Doncic and Irving drove for buckets while also hitting a 3 apiece.

The Celtics answered with a 21-9 finish to the first quarter. Sam Hauser hit two of his first-half 3s — on three attempts — to help wrap up a run that started with four points from Brown and a 3 from Tatum.

Defense dominated the start of the second quarter, Boston holding a 5-2 edge nearly six minutes in before Irving and Tatum traded 3s to start a scoring burst.

NBA Finals Game 3 Celtics vs Mavericks


2024 NBA Finals schedule (Game 3)

8:30am – Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks

FULL SCHEDULE HERE.

Kyrie Irving channeling 2016 as Mavericks plot NBA Finals rally

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP

DALLAS – Kyrie Irving is drawing from the experience of Cleveland’s 2016 NBA Finals comeback as he attempts to help dig the Dallas Mavericks out of an 0-2 hole against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

The Mavericks host their first game of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, desperate for victory after dropping the opening two road games of the best-of-seven series in Boston last week. FULL STORY

NBA Finals: Porzingis has rare leg injury, uncertain for Game 3

Kristaps Porzingis Boston Celtics NBA Finals

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis talks with reporters before basketball practice, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Dallas, in preparation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS — Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t played a game in Dallas since the Mavericks traded him nearly 2 1/2 years ago, and now it is uncertain if he will play there in Game 3 of the NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics.

Porzingis has a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg, which occurred in the third quarter of Boston’s 105-98 victory for a 2-0 series lead. The team said Tuesday that he was day-to-day, and Porzingis said he will do everything he can to play Wednesday night. FULL STORY

NBA Finals: Mavericks need more 3s to fall in rally bid vs Celtics

Luka Doncic Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic shoots free throws during basketball practice, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Dallas, in preparation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS — Luka Doncic’s message is simple for the struggling 3-point shooters around him, and with Dallas trailing Boston 2-0 while coming home for the NBA Finals.

“Just one thing: Keep shooting,” the Mavericks superstar said. “We all believe in those shots. That’s how we came to the Finals. That’s how we played the whole season. We believe in those guys.”

Dallas faces several daunting numbers going into Game 3 on Wednesday night. FULL STORY

Celtics control NBA Finals despite Jayson Tatum’s shooting woes

Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) questions a call during Game 2 of the NBA Basketball Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

DALLAS — There have been two versions of Jayson Tatum so far in these NBA Finals.

Version One is shooting a dismal 12 for 38 from the field, just 31.6%, the worst percentage by far of any starter in the series between his Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. Version Two is second in the finals in total rebounds, leads the series in assists and, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, is currently favored to win the NBA Finals MVP award. FULL STORY

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June Mar Fajardo savors tied series; Best Player a ‘bonus’


June Mar Fajardo takes home the PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference Award for San Miguel Beermen ahead of Finals Game 4–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Taking home the Best Player of the Conference Award was a sweet accolade to get but tying the PBA Philippine Cup Finals series at 2-2 is even sweeter, at least according to June Mar Fajardo.

After winning the BPC award for a historic 10th time on Wednesday, Fajardo capped off his night by helping San Miguel Beer defeat Meralco, 111-101, in the highest-scoring game of the series thus far.

But while having new hardware in the closet is a clear motivator, Fajardo said he was more motivated by the fact that his Beermen was down in the series before Gamre 4.

READ: PBA: June Mar Fajardo wins 10th Best Player of Conference award

“I was motivated because we were down by one game in this series. The BPC [award] is just a bonus,” said Fajardo in Filipino. “I’m happy to get the BPC but [I give] credits to my teammates because I wouldn’t get that if it wasn’t for them.”

Fajardo proved why he was the All-Filipino Conference’s top player with another sensational double-double with 28 points and 13 rebounds on a blistering 64 percent field goal shooting clip.

The seven-time league MVP was also instrumental in stopping the Meralco bigs, helping the Beermen force Cliff Hodge and Brandon Bates to foul out of the game in the fourth quarter quelling any hopes of a comeback rally.

HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Finals Game 4 San Miguel vs Meralco

Of course, it wasn’t an easy job for Fajardo–or the Beermen as a whole, for that matter–making the series a virtual best-of-three.

“The defense on me was good and that also goes for our whole team. We had limited shots but now, like coach (Jorge Gallent) told us, we passed the ball well and that’s the reason why we won.”

The PBA Finals reach a fever pitch in Game 5 at the same venue on Friday at 7:30 pm.

PBA: June Mar Fajardo wins 10th Best Player of Conference award


San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

SCHEDULE: PBA Finals San Miguel vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo won his 10th Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award for the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.

Fajardo was awarded the BPC plum before Game 4 of the Finals between the Beermen and the Bolts at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

Prior to Game 4, the seven-time MVP averaged 17.4 points, 14.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.

Fajardo has been playing efficiently for the Beermen this conference, shooting 52.8 percent from the field in the All-Filipino derby.

READ: PBA Finals: Shackled June Mar Fajardo key to Meralco success

Fajardo edged out BPC finalists Stephen Holt of Terrafirma and Robert Bolick of NLEX. He also leapfrogged fellow San Miguel star CJ Perez and Ginebra big man Christian Standhardinger.

Bolick, responsible for the Road Warriors’ quarterfinal stint, led the league in scoring at the end of the elimination round with 28.3 points a night while Holt is still leading the Rookie of the Year talks with 21.08 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.4 steals per outing.

With 10 BPCs in his grasp, Fajardo remained the player with the most citations of the award.

Khat Bell makes PH comeback with Chery Tiggo


FILE–Khat Bell

MANILA, Philippines — Khat Bell makes her much-anticipated comeback in the Philippines as she bolsters Chery Tiggo’s roster in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, which begins in July.

Chery Tiggo on Wednesday unveiled the American wing spiker as their import for the second conference after arriving in Manila hours ago from Canada.

Bell is returning after four years since she last played for the defunct Petron in the Philippine Superliga in 2020 before the season was canceled by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“I’m so excited to announce that I’m finally playing back in the Philippines for Chery Tiggo! I’ve been looking forward to come back to Manila for a very long time now, about four years since COVID, and I cannot be more excited and be happy to be back here for the fans, playing for Chery,” Bell said.

The 6-foot-2 spiker, who won two PSL Grand Prix titles with the Blaze Spikers in 2018 and 2019, is excited to team up with the players she played before with the likes Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, Mylene Paat, and Shaya Adorador and new faces Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva, whose availability for this conference is up in the air due to their commitment to Alas Pilipinas.

“For the fans that don’t know me, I bring a lot! I bring energy, I bring a little sass, and definitely I bring a winning mentality. I’m excited to be able to come back here and perform to the best of my ability, and hopefully help Chery Tiggo get to the top,” she said.

“Even though I’m new to Chery Tiggo, I’m fortunate enough to be playing[ with the likes of] Aby. There’s a few players as well that I’m excited to see, my old players from my old team. Coming to Chery Tiggo, I’m really excited just to be here.”

Determined to win a title in her first PVL stint and end Chery Tiggo’s three-year title drought, the 31-year-old Bell urged the Chery fans to support her and the Crossovers.

“To the fans, I am so ecstatic to be back playing here for you guys. Hope you guys come out, watch the games and cheer us on. Go, Chery Tiggo,” she said. 

Bell, who is armed with her experience in the Korean V-League and American pro team Vegas Thrill, is reunited with former Petron libero Buding Duremdes and ex-deputy coach Yani Fernandez, who is now part of Chery Tiggo coach KungFu Reyes’ coaching staff.

Chery Tiggo booked its second straight trip to the semifinals last All-Filipino Conference but they lost all three matches in the round and fell to Petro Gazz in the battle for third.

Two teams have already revealed their imports including PLDT, which welcomed returning Russian spiker Elena Samoilenko.

The top four of Reinforced will also qualify in the PVL Invitational Conference in September with two foreign guest teams.

Caitlin Clark, WNBA rookies draw near-record crowds for 1st month


FILE – Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark signs autographs for fans before the start of WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)

NEW YORK — The first month of the WNBA season drew its highest attendance since the league’s second season in 1998 and the best television ratings in its history, the WNBA announced Tuesday.

The figures are the latest evidence of the surging popularity of the WNBA since it added prominent rookies including Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, Chicago’s Angel Reese and Los Angeles’ Cameron Brink, all of whom drew big audiences playing in college.

Across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, ION and NBA TV, WNBA games are averaging 1.32 million viewers, nearly tripling last season’s average of 462,000, the league said on Tuesday.

WNBA: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever hope break can help turn around season

“What’s happening now in women’s basketball is confirmation of what we’ve always known: The demand is there, and women’s sports is a valuable investment,” said Colie Edison, the WNBA’s chief growth officer. “We’re encouraged by growing engagement across all our verticals, especially as we welcome new and diverse audiences into our fandom. The WNBA continues to experience sustained growth as our league embraces this heightened momentum.”

The WNBA finished May having sold out more than half its games, more than double the number of sellouts last year. Approximately 400,000 fans have attended games, the most through the first month in 26 years.

Arenas have been filled to 94% capacity, a 17% rise from last year, the league said. Some games have been moved to bigger arenas to accommodate increased fan interest, such as Clark and the Fever playing at the Washington Wizards’ downtown arena in front of 20,333 fans last Friday night instead of the Mystics’ usual venue, which seats 4,200.

On the television side, the WNBA said it saw a 96% increase in Hispanic viewers and a 67% increase in Black viewers.

Merchandise sales rose 236% from the same period last year, with Clark, Reese and Brink ranking in the top five for jersey sales during the first week of the season.

Banged-up Bates doesn’t mind putting body on Fajardo


Meralco rookie Brandon Bates kept it simple when asked about the tall task of defending San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo in the PBA Philippine Cup championship series.

“Starstruck … and sore!” he said with a hearty laugh while chatting with the Inquirer. “I remember waking up the other morning and every single part of my body was sore.”

Turning serious, the Filipino-Australian big man pointed out that he wasn’t expecting anything less from the man who has helped deliver San Miguel’s last 10 crowns while winning seven MVP trophies.

“He’s the best player in this league, and possibly—arguably—the best in Philippine (basketball’s) history,” Bates went on. “So yeah, starstruck and sore.”

Bates hasn’t been too shabby in this best-of-seven duel where he has helped his crew take a 2-1 lead. The former La Salle center has been integral in putting the clamps on the Beermen cornerstone.

Alongside Raymond Almazan, Norbert Torres and Kyle Pascual, Bates has made things difficult for Fajardo, especially in Game 3, as the San Miguel star was held to only five field goal attempts and forced to a team-worst seven turnovers.

There’s no denying that among the questions on Wednesday’s Game 4 set at 7:30 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum will be about sustaining that effort. And Bates is optimistic, as energy, after all, has been synonymous with Meralco’s play.

“The coaching staff has prepared us really well. Our training sessions weren’t easy. They haven’t been easy coming into this [series]. I think we’re very well-prepared especially if this goes into seven games,” he said.

“It’s what we want because we’re truly prepared for this sort of stuff.”

Poster boy

Cliff Hodge, easily Meralco’s poster boy for vigor, is hardly fazed with the possibility of the Bolts’ energy sputtering as the series plods along.

“Ever since the ‘PBA On Tour,’ when the coaching staff came back and asked us what our goals are, we said we want to win a championship. They said, ‘all right, well if you guys want to win a championship, then you all got to be conditioned to win a championship,’” Hodge said as the Bolts look to build a huge 3-1 cushion.

“So we’ve been putting in the work since then. And I’m not tired—I can do this any day of the week. All the guys on the team are in condition and we’re in shape. So we want to keep this pace up. If everything works out and we win a championship, then that’s great. If not, we’ll keep working until we win one,” he added.

Such a projection remains to be seen, and it will be interesting to see if it even holds as they try to fend off the Beermen from equalizing.

Fajardo is shaping up to be at the front and center of that San Miguel counterattack in what is looming as his coronation as the Best Player of the Conference (BPC). Barring any big changes, the Cebuano hotshot will be taking home his 10th BPC, the most by anyone in league history.

Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza added to Alas Pilipinas pool


Creamline’s Tots Carlos, left, Jema Galanza and Alyssa Valdez during the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza De Brito has added Creamline champion players Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza to the national training pool, expecting the pair along with National University MVPs Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon to join the preparation for the FIVB Challenger Cup.

De Brito bared he has tapped Galanza and Carlos to join the current Alas team, which won a historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup, after missing the previous tournament in Manila due to Creamline’s long-awaited Spain trip.

“We invited them again. Hopefully, tomorrow they can join. We’re always hoping for talented players,” De Brito told reporters.  “It depends on the target we want. If it’s a short one, take the best one now. If the target is long-term, [you get] someone that you can develop. It’s a vision. It’s a kind of vision. But often, [we take] all the good ones. Always.”

READ: De Brito embraces higher expectations for Alas Pilipinas

The Brazilian coach is also expecting Belen and Solomon, who are part of the original pool, to report to practice on Wednesday morning at Philsports Arena. University of the East rising star Casiey Dongallo is still recovering from an arm injury but she’s part of the long-term plan.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation, which extended De Brito’s contract, vowed to keep the bronze medal team’s core for the long haul with Challenge Cup Best Setter Jia De Guzman and Best Opposite Spiker Angel Canino as well as Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure, Fifi Sharma, Thea Gagate, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Cherry Nunag, Dell Palomata, Faith Nisperos, Jennifer Nierva, Arah Panique, Julia Coronel, and Vanie Gandler, who also played a friendly in South Korea last week.

But De Brito seeks to add more players to the pool with his wishlist including Choco Mucho’s Mars Alba and Maddie Madayag, Ivy Lacsina of Akari, Tin Ubaldo of Far Eastern University, Gayle Pascual of College of Saint Benilde, and even Jolina Dela Cruz of Farm Fresh once she recovers from her ACL injury. 

“There are many players. They’re developing themselves and every time you do that, you have a chance in the national team. It’s important to know that if you’re performing good, the door is always open. It’s always been like this,” he said.

De Brito said he’s not limiting his options to young players as he is also open to adding veterans.

READ: Jorge Souza de Brito stays on as Alas Pilipinas coach

“Talented players will always come. There will always be. The last time that Brazil played in the Olympics, we had a player in the first six that was 41 years old. So, age is not a limit. Age will not be a limit if you’re healthy if you’re competitive. And also, it’s a decision from the coaches,” he said. “I never talk about specific names or players [because] if you’re playing good, if you’re needed in the national team, for sure you’re gonna be there or you’re gonna be invited.”

Alas plays a do-or-die game against Challenge Cup champion Vietnam in the Challenger Cup — a qualifier for the Volleyball Nations League — set from July 4 to 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

De Brito is just proud to see the determination and commitment of his current players to represent the flag after their unexpected bronze in the Challenge Cup.

“They want much more, to keep that winning feeling when they’re inside. All the time, they’re excited to play and it’s always good because it’s international exposure. The team there is good. But also, we have to consider, the ball is different, the environment is different, we don’t have time to practice, but we’re not complaining,” he said. “They’re enjoying a lot because they feel that it is something that they can take as an experience. That’s why every training for them now is something good.”

‘I’ll teach him more about boxing,’ Pacquiao vows in bout vs MMA champ


Manny Pacquiao (right) is all set to face MMA champion Chihiro Suzuki. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

About a year and a half removed from his last match, Manny Pacquiao has been spending his time completing side quests.

The boxing icon has been caught on social media dabbling in endurance motorcycling, tennis, pool, and even trying out his luck in chess against an equally legendary sporting figure in Efren Reyes.

Pacquiao, now 45, is scheduled to complete another quest postretirement when he returns to an old stomping ground next month.

“I came here to fight this coming July 28 … I remember my first and last fight here in Japan—that was in ’98—and it [finished in the] first round. It’s my mission to come back and do it again,” he said in a live-streamed presser on Monday noon, promoting his specialized fight against Japanese-Peruvian mixed martial artist Chihiro Suzuki.

“Though [this] fight is only three rounds, I’ll do [my] best to make it faster than that,” the former senator added, referring to his first-round knockout of Shin Terao in Tokyo that lasted just under three minutes.

Pacquiao will be battling Suzuki, a two-sport champion, in a 150-pound boxing contest at Saitama Arena penciled to go for three, three-minute rounds.

The fight, which will be staged under the banner of Rizin Fighting Federation, will also be the first time in over a decade that Pacquiao figures outside his usual fighting weight.

And that shouldn’t be a problem, according to the former—and only—eight-division boxing champion.

“Sixty-eight kilograms is 149 pounds, so a little bit heavier than my weight, 147,” Pacquiao said shortly after doing math with his smartphone. “But it’s OK. I’ve been in 154 before with (Antonio) Margarito. I’m used to fighting at a bigger weight, so nothing to worry about.”

Kickboxing champ, too

Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision over Margarito for the World Boxing Council super welterweight championship in November 2010.

Suzuki is a champion in both mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing disciplines and is eager to tap his expertise in those sports to conquer the legendary boxer.

“I know that a boxer’s punches won’t land on Pacquiao. But I’m an MMA fighter and I do believe that MMA strikes will land,” he said with the aid of a translator.

“In this fight, he may teach me what boxing is, but I’ll teach him what MMA is about,” he added.

Pacquiao responded in a way only Pacquiao could.

“Boxing is not easy to learn. Chihiro wants to experience [that]. I’m sure, on July 28, he’ll learn more about boxing,” he said with a smirk.

“I’ll teach him more about boxing.”

Pacquiao’s last fight was in an exhibition against YouTuber DK Yoo in South Korea. The former defeated the hometown bet with a 6-round unanimous decision. INQ