But it won’t happen as Pacquiao is determined to work out in a sweat today to keep him in top shape for his much-awaited showdown with Mexican Oscar Larios on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

"I told him go to church and spend some quality time with his family. I even told him to take a day off on Sunday (today) but Manny told me he wants to work out. I don’t know with him," said Roach after supervising Pacquiao’s late-morning training at the ABAP Gym.

Roach is already satisfied with what he wanted to see from Pacquiao on Friday when the Filipino boxing hero toyed with his Russian sparring partner, lightweight Rustam Nugaev.

Pacquiao’s plane took off from Villamor Airbase at a little past 3 p.m. yesterday for General Santos.

Aside from Pacquiao, also on the plane were training assistant Nonoy Neri and Wild Card Boxing Club enforcer Rob Peters and a TV crew. Roach decided to just stay behind and wait for his prized pupil to return at his posh Aguinaldo Suite at the historic landmark Manila Hotel.

They are expected to be back in Manila before sundown today in time for tomorrow’s public-press preview starting at 11 a.m. at the Big Dome.

Pacquiao’s spirit is high and his mood is upbeat eight days before the fight and just before he reported for training, he posed for pictures and signed autographs inside his suite, which will probably be his home until after the fight.

"I like it here at (The Manila Hotel)," said Pacquiao, who always stays at the hotel, courtesy of Mayor Lito Atienza, upon his arrival from a big fight overseas.

Larios, who is planing in today from Tokyo, will reside at The Discovery Suite in Ortigas Center in Pasig along with the local and foreign fighters seeing action in the undercard, fight officials and members of Pacquiao’s US and local management teams.

The official press conference will also be held at the high-end Discovery Suites on Thursday and the official weigh-in at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Pacquiao is heavily favored to beat Larios, who should be very lucky to go past six rounds, according to oddsmakers.

Pacquiao started training for this fight on May 17 and he spent four weeks in Hollywood with Roach where they hatched a well-planned strategy to beat Larios in stunning fashion.