Miami Heat's Coach Confident He Can Beat Pacquiao

By Michael Marley

CARSON, Calif.--Floyd Mayweather isn't the only guy out there who remains convincingly convinced that he can beat Piny Idol Manny Pacquiao.

Miami Heat's head coach Erik Spoelstra, whose mother is from the Philippines, still thinks he can whip Pacman...at least on the basketball court.

Their possible one on one, mano a mano contest shapes up as a bit of a hoops mismatch given the fact that the youngest head coach in the NBA, whose star-studded team of superstars named James, Bosh and Wade just crashed to defeat against the Dallas Mavericks, stands a full 6-1 while Pacquiao is vertically challenged at a mere 5-6.

Top Rank's Vice President Carl Moretti bumped into the personable Spoelstra as the Miami mentor and Pat Reilly protege was coming out of a restaurant in nearby Los Angeles Friday night.

Moretti, bossman Bob Arum and the rest of the usual Top Rank are in SoCal for Saturday night's Brandon Rios title bout against rugged challenger Urbano Antillo (televised via Showtime) from the Home Depot Center. The featured Pinoy boxer on the show is unbeaten lightweight from Cebu, Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta, making his debut under the TR banner.

Moretti mentioned his employer, and Pacquaio - and Spoelstra, who previously discussed doing hoop and health clinics in the Philippines for youth in the country, never hesitated.

“I can beat Manny one on one, no doubt,” Spoelstra said.

But Moretti, an avid sports fan, came back with a wicked verbal counter-punch.

“I don't know, Coach, Manny plays all four quarters,” Moretti said.

The obvious dig was to how Spoelstra's galaxy of mega superstars wilted under pressure late in the recent NBA Finals against the Mavs.

Pacman vs. Spoelstra, one on one, sounds like a fun diversion and one which could bring some needed revenue to their selected charities.

So, come on Megamanny, and come on, Coach.

Let's have a jump ball.

This has a better chance of becoming a reality than Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.