Manny Pacquiao exited the Netflix reality competition Physical: Asia in Episode 5, citing “another obligation” in the Philippines as his reason for leaving. The People’s Champ announced his early exit during the show and apologized to both his team and the audience.
“I have to leave the competition and return to the Philippines because of another obligation in my home country,” Pacquiao said. “I also want to apologize to my team,” he added. “As a team captain, I was really proud to have the opportunity to represent the Philippines.”
Pacquiao served as the team captain of Team Philippines and was one of the main draws of the season, both as a boxing legend and a national icon. After his departure, CrossFit athlete Justin Hernandez stepped in as the new captain. Hernandez, the first and only Filipino male athlete to compete in the CrossFit Games, led the team through the remaining rounds of the competition.
Neither Pacquiao nor Netflix provided details on what the “obligation” entailed, though his professional and organizational commitments have remained active in 2025.
His absence marked a pivotal change for Team Philippines, forcing a quick leadership transition that played out mid-season. Despite the shift, the team continued its strong showing under Hernandez’s leadership.
Physical: Asia is the latest edition of the Physical: 100 franchise, featuring elite athletes from across the continent competing in extreme fitness challenges.
