Pacquiao ditches tricked-out bus, will ride 'traditionally' to Vegas

MANILA, Philippines - A most talked-about bus is all set to leave for Los Angeles. But it will do so without its most important passenger. Manny Pacquiao departs on Monday for Las Vegas aboard his reliable gray Lincoln Navigator, and not on the graffiti-riddled 30-seater provided by Pacquiao promoter Top Rank Inc. Trainer Freddie Roach revealed the plan Saturday just as the bus, painted impressively with huge Pacquiao images, was transported in and parked just outside of the Wild Card Gym in LA. "We'll do it the old way. We'll do the normal thing as we've been doing in the past," Roach told Manila-based scribes moments after Pacquiao sparred for six rounds. Since 2005 during his first meeting with Eric Morales, Team Pacquiao traditionally hits the road for a four-hour trip from LA to Las Vegas on a long convoy of cars. As part of hyping up the December 7 (December 6, US time) Dream Match at the MGM Grand Garden Hotel, Top Rank Inc. big boss Bob Arum brought in a bus wrapped up in Pacquiao images. Pacquiao chief of staff Jake Joson revealed that the cost to trick out the bus was at $50,000 (P2.45 million). But Pacquiao, usually superstitious about keeping old routines, decided not to abandon his habitual mode of transportation. "He won't be riding the bus. Manny usually doesn't want changes," Roach said. Pacquiao's entourage will be on board the bus. In 2006, Top Rank offered Pacquiao to fly him from LA to Vegas, but Pacquiao turned down the offer. Meanwhile, de la Hoya will be planing to Vegas also on Monday from his training camp in Big Bear, California. - GMANews.TV