Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, chosen as captain of Team Philippines, surprised fans and fellow competitors by departing from Netflix’s “Physical: Asia” in the fifth episode, which aired on November 4. Pacquiao cited “obligations in the Philippines” as the reason for his sudden exit but provided no further details. “I want to apologize,” he said. Pacquiao had run for a Senate seat in the midterm elections but placed 18th, missing the Senate Magic 12. With Pacquiao’s exit, Team Philippines now consists of Justin Hernandez (team captain and CrossFit athlete), Lara Liwanag (CrossFit), Mark Mugen (national Sambo athlete), Ray Jefferson Querubin (strongman), Justin Coveney (national rugby player), and Robyn Lauren Brown (national hurdler). Since Pacquiao’s appointment as team captain, other teams have closely watched the Philippines' representatives, noting his status as a boxing legend. According to the show’s creator, Jang Ho-gi, the production team visited Pacquiao at his home in the Philippines, where they watched him train and shared a home-cooked meal. Jang said Pacquiao immediately agreed to join the show after being briefed on its concept. “Physical: Asia” is a spinoff of the South Korean sports show “Physical 100,” in which teams from different countries compete in physically demanding challenges for a prize of one billion Korean won (approximately P40.6 million). “I need to return to my country because I have obligations for the country,” he said, apologizing to his teammates for leaving the competition. The show, filmed in February, coincided with the 2025 senatorial campaign period.
