An estimated 500 billboards featuring Manny Pacquiao will be placed in Nike stores across America soon.
Pacquiao was among a bevy of sports stars who underwent a pictorial at the Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles as part of their contractual obligations with the leading sports apparel manufacturer.
Others who struck a pose were basketball icon Kobe Bryant and tennis diva Maria Sharapova.
A Team Pacquiao member said all the Nike talents had their pictorials separately but at around 5:30 p.m., as Pacquiao was wrapping up his session, Bryant arrived and the two exchanged pleasantries.
Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday night and after his Wednesday afternoon shoot, the pound-for-pound king went to the airport to take the Philippine-bound Philippine Airlines jet that touches down in Manila at 6 a.m. today.
Pacquiao, who fights next on Nov. 14 possibly against Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, had to return to the Philippines so he could fulfil all his showbiz commitments.
Nick Giongco
Manila Bulletin, July 9,2009
