WHY MANNY PACQUIAO AGREED TO JOIN NETFLIX'S 'PHYSICAL: ASIA'

NETFLIX KOREA'S HIT REALITY FRANCHISE "PHYSICAL" returns in its "most ambitious edition" yet with "Physical: Asia," featuring sports legends and idols from across the region who will battle it out to become champion.

- By NATHALIE TOMADA

In a virtual presscon yesterday, Netflix officially revealed the 48 contestants of “Physical: Asia,” which promises to be the franchise's first-ever “nation versus nation” showdown. This means eight countries — Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines — will “collide in a high-stakes competition of strength, strategy and teamwork for nothing less than national pride,” according to the international streamer's media primer.

Each six-person squad is anchored by a national superstar who “embodies the competitive spirit of their homeland.”

Team Korea is led by UFC trailblazer Dong Hyun Kim. For Japan, it’s Yushin Okami, one of Asia's most decorated MMA fighters. Leading Australia is former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker. For Thailand, it’s Muay Thai world champ Superbon. Mongolia’s team is fronted by traditional wrestling star Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan. Türkiye is headed by four-time oil wrestling champion Recep Kara, while Indonesia presents physique powerhouse Igedz “Executioner.”

It was clear though that one of the show's most important contenders is Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao— the only eight-division world champion in history — who will lead Team Philippines. During the mediacon, several questions were raised by Korean reporters about Manny's participation as he appeared via Zoom.

The showrunner, Jang Ho Gi, shared how they were able to convince Manny to join in the first place.