Pacquiao shows up at Rizal for training

MANILA, Philippines - Under a blazing early morning sun, Manny Pacquiao showed up for his first track work under conditioning coach Alex Ariza at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Monday, assuring everyone that all is well in his buildup for the fast-approaching Nov. 13 duel with Antonio Margarito. "Hindi naman ako nagpapabaya. Hindi naman tayo naglalakwatsa eh," said Pacquiao after Ariza presided over the first of a series of strength exercises that featured quick bursts of speed in short distances and legwork using pylons. Pacquiao left his training camp in Baguio last Saturday owing to commitments in Manila, including a planned meeting with President Noynoy Aquino on Monday that didn't take place after Pacquiao showed up at Malacañang at 11:30 a.m. Pacquiao's lawyer Franklin Gacal said the meeting was set at 11 a.m. and Pacquiao, the representative of Saragani, overslept after going through a strenuous training session under Ariza that lasted for almost two hours earlier. Gacal said Pacquiao instead met Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, who was briefed by Pacquiao about "provincial concerns in Saragani." Ariza said the coming days will be tough and hard since there would be much more of the same morning exercises. "We're just opening up the lungs. This is the easiest day because this is just the first day (for track work)," said Ariza, eliciting a strange look from the Filipino fighter who was right behind him. "That's okay," said Pacquiao, smiling, looking and sounding confident that he will get the job done and proving to everyone else that he has everything all figured out. Ariza said Pacquiao remains on track despite a few minor bumps, including one full day of workout missed last week owing to a sinus problem. "The thing with these guys is that their training is so hard that they would be sparring at 60 percent because they are shot from the workouts from the beginning. And so when people come in there and expect to see a pay-per-view performance, they are out of their minds." Ariza said he was not alarmed that Pacquiao was unimpressive in his last sparring session last Saturday - three rounds each with Glen Tapia and Michael Medina - because "sparmates get to sleep all day, relax, rest, so they're going in fresh." Pacquiao was scheduled to head back to Baguio to reunite with Freddie Roach late Monday night in time for another round of sparring at the Shape Up Gym. Team Pacquiao leaves for the US on Oct. 23.