By Ronnie Nathanielsz

EIGHT-DIVISION world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao loves the sport of basketball and is coach of the KIA team in the Philippine Basketball Association, which is the longest-running pro league next to the NBA, while undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., is also an basketball fan.

The two met at the American Airlines Arena in Miami and sat right across each other, with Mayweather walking across the court at halftime of the Miami Heat-Milwaukee Bucks game to talk briefly with Pacquiao and exchange phone numbers.

The Miami Herald noted that the meeting could result in the biggest fight that many thought would never happen and might one day trace its roots to this NBA game.

Pacquiao’s longtime adviser Michael Koncz told krikya360.com/Manila Standard/Viva Sports that coach Erik Spoelstra with whom they met before the game said: “It was a very important game but unfortunately, the Heat didn’t win.”

Spoelstra himself indicated he was “shocked” to see Mayweather, who sat a few feet away from the Heat bench, at the game.

“Floyd came to us at halftime and we had a brief, private, personal discussion,” said Koncz, who declined to divulge anything, claiming - “we are trying to build a trust relationship.”

Koncz said he didn’t want to discuss even the possibility of the fight taking place as Mayweather wanted on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“It was a nice, short, pleasant conversation that’s all. We are trying to build a trust element with Floyd and if I keep telling people what we talked about, how can I ever have trust with Floyd?,” said Koncz.

Koncz said they will leave Washington for Manila on Feb. 6 after the major Prayer Breakfast, which will also be attended by US president Barack Obama.

Pacquiao said it was the first time he had met Mayweather and spoken to him in person. The two met later at Pacquiao's suite and further discussed a potential fight and the issues which prevent it.

Asked what the chances are of the fight happening, Pacquiao said: “Yeah. I believe so.”

Pacquiao said Mayweather gave his number to him.

“We would communicate with each other,” said Pacquiao, sparking possibilities that the two boxers would try to work out a fight between themselves.

This was confirmed by the Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds, who quoted Pacquiao as saying Mayweather told him, “it’s time for them to work this fight out themselves.”

Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who now works with Mayweather after handling Pacquiao for several years when his career zoomed, earlier told BoxingScene/Manila Standard: “If Manny can fly some 13,000 miles to meet with Amir Khan in London, surely he can call Floyd and meet with him only a few minutes away.”

Pacquiao said he wasn’t surprised that Mayweather approached him at halftime because he had received a one-minute notice before the meeting took place.

Pacquiao, who was a judge at the Miss Universe pageant, said he planned to fly out to Los Angeles on Tuesday, but because of the bad weather had to postpone his flight and instead decided to watch the Heat-Bucks’ game.