Popular American Youtuber IShowSpeed is taking the Philippines by storm with his very own league, featuring Manny Pacquiao.
Manila was the melting pot of Philippine sports yesterday, with the Creamline Cool Smashers and Cignal HD Spikers going head-to-head in the 2024 PVL Invitational Finals, while the TNT Tropang Giga and the Meralco Bolts clashed to secure a quarterfinals berth in the PBA Governors' Cups
But there was also tension in sports happening in General Santos City.
Arriving in the Philippines on September 11, Youtube sensation IShowSpeed is currently touring Asia, stopping by Thailand before starting his first stream in Binondo, Manila last Wednesday.
[ALSO READ: Top 3 insane IShowSpeed sports moments you have to see to believe]
But the highlight of his Philippine tour: his meeting with Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
A huge fan of Pacquiao, Speed couldn’t contain his excitement when he finally met the boxing icon. He spent three hours exploring the champ’s house, attempted to sing "Ito Ang Liga" and even got to perform Manny’s hit song Para Sa'yo Ang Laban Na'to
But the American youtuber had a different goal in mind during his visit: To step into the ring with Pacquiao himself.
Manny, always a playful coach, let Speed throw some warmup punches, and to his surprise, the YouTuber actually had some basic moves down.
Feeling confident, Speed urged Pacquiao to step it up, saying, “Come on, Manny, go a little harder on me. I’m not a kid.”
Speed quickly regretted goading the eight-division world champion after being knocked down by a single body shot. The two shared a friendly hug after their match.
Their bromance didn’t end there, though as Pacquiao and Speed shared a meal, eating balut and chicken adobo, and even played a round of chess.
The night was punctuated by Manny recreating his viral “Happy New Year, everyone” meme at Speed’s request and a pair of boxing gloves for Speed, signed by his idol himself.
Speed expressed his gratitude to the Filipinos as he ends his tour of the country and hopes the people could chill more when he comes back.
"I love y'all, I appreciate y'all, but when I come back, please tone it down so I could stream," IShowSpeed said in his stream, which lasted more then three hours and garnered him more than 500,000 new subscribers.
But what can we do? The Philippines loves you too much, Speed