Boxing legend and Philippine icon Manny Pacquiao has made a sudden exit from the reality competition series Physical: Asia, citing another obligation in the Philippines.
Pacquiao initially travelled to Korea to lead Team Philippines in the eight-nation contest, which pits elite athletes against each other in grueling physical and strategic challenges. When the show premiered, he expressed excitement about the concept, and confidently spoke of his team’s strength and strategy.
However, during Episode 5, Pacquiao announced his departure:
“I wanted to take a moment and apologise to everyone. I have to leave the competition and return to the Philippines because of another obligation in my home country.”
He also told his teammates:
“We came here with one goal. To show the capacity and capability of Team Philippines. I really wanted to win the challenges.”
Following his exit, the team introduced Justin Hernandez—a Filipino-American CrossFit athlete—as the new captain of Team Philippines.
While Pacquiao did not publicly detail what his Philippine obligation is, reports suggest it could be tied to his return to professional boxing, his involvement in sports administration, or other national-level commitments.
Despite his departure, the show’s producers have indicated that the transition was handled smoothly and the competition for Team Philippines continues under Hernandez’s leadership.