Daniel Orton Calls Manny Pacquiao's Basketball Attempt 'A Joke'
Manny Pacquiao has been known in the Philippines and even in the whole world as a boxing superstar and soon-to-be legend, but recently, he ventured into professional basketball in his home country. However, one man expressed he is not a fan of Pacquiao the baller in the harshest way possible.
Former Oklahoma City Thunder player Daniel Orton criticized Pacquiao after the latter played for the Kia Carnival in a PBA match on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In a report by Josh Castro of Dugout Philippines, Orton, who currently plays for the Carnival's opponents Purefoods Star Hotshots, ranted that Pacquiao, the world's only eight-division world boxing champion, is not suited for professional basketball.
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"Professional boxer, okay. Congressman, alright. Professional basketball player? No. It's a joke. Seriously, it's a joke," Orton said.
Furthermore, he expressed dismay over the officiating of the Kia-Purefoods game.
Orton got saddled with foul trouble and eventually fouled out with 1:30 remaining in the match only tallying six points and three rebounds, and he believed that the referees called cheap fouls against him.
"The way the game was going the refs made it into a mockery, seriously. They took the game that I know and love and made it into a mockery," he said.
The Carnival, a rookie team in the league, stunned the Hotshots, the champions in the ongoing Commissioner's Cup, 95-84.
Meanwhile, while he found the game "a joke" in general, Orton vowed to Jane Bracher of Rappler that he will bounce back on Sunday as Purefoods clashes with arch rival Ginebra in what many PBA fans tag as the "Manila Clasico."
"I'm way better than this and I'll show that on Sunday in our next game.I'll come back harder and stronger come Sunday, I promise you that," he continued.
However, Orton may not be able to prove his worth come Sunday.
Richard Dy of Spin reported that the Hotshots camp is considering bringing back either of longtime foreign reinforcements Marqus Blakely and Denzel Bowles, both former NBA players as well, should Orton get into deep trouble with his rants.
The report quoted club governor Rene Pardo saying that Orton's words do "not reflect the sentiment of the team."
Blakely actually played for Purefoods in its first three games, all wins, as a stand-in import while Orton was yet to be cleared to go to the Philippines.
In another report by Dugout Philippines, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud asked Orton to come to his office on Friday afternoon to explain his rants.
