Yeng Guiao, a seven-time champion coach on three different teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), will have a new ballclub to handle starting in the next season.
In a shocking twist last week, the brilliant bench taskmaster jumped ship and left Rain or Shine – the team he steered to two championships since he took over in 2011 including the Commissioner’s Cup title this season – to head to the NLEX which will be looking to turn its fortunes around in the league.
This development caught many by surprise even as NLEX was actively looking for a mentor who can steer the ailing team to new heights and finally be a legitimate championship contender.
With Guiao on board, NLEX management expects the Road Warriors to contend for no less than a first ever championship for the young franchise.
In its two-year campaigns so far in the league, NLEX never came close to reaching the semifinals despite a veteran core. With Guiao, maybe this will now happen. It made the quarterfinals on most occasions before eventually bouncing out of tournaments.
The last time the 57-year-old fiery mentor shifted teams was in mid-2010 when he left then PBA squad Air21 to go to Rain or Shine.
In his six seasons with the Elasto Painters, he guided the team to nine straight semifinals appearances before the streak ended last month when they failed to make the playoffs in the ongoing Governors’ Cup.
Some two weeks back, reports indicated that Guiao and Rain or Shine were already in talks for a contract renewal but eventually the veteran mentor saw a more lucrative offer from NLEX, prompting him to transfer.
Restructuring a struggling basketball program and having a big hand in the company’s community-related services in his home province of Pampanga were the main reasons why he made the jump.
Guiao – a former Pampanga congressman and vice governor – is also set to receive a corporate job on the side, aside from his coaching gig, under the Manny V. Pangilinan group of companies.
The Road Warriors decided to let go of coach Boyet Fernandez, who was the team’s tactician since it joined the league two years ago. Unfortunately, Fernandez was unable to spearhead the team to success.
Guiao inherits a NLEX team which finished their 2016 Governors’ Cup campaign with a disappointing 5-6 win-loss record.
But he feels NLEX has the right combination of veterans and young players needed to turn it into a title contender, pointing to seven players who could eventually form the core of the team in the next PBA season. He was quick to identify Asi Taulava, Sean Anthony, Jonas Villanueva, Rico Villanueva, Garvo Lanete, Glenn Khobuntin and Eric Quimson as players who can step up to the plate.
Guiao will surely be able to make stars out of those players who hardly see action on the floor. He will make unknown players believe they are in the PBA because they are good players.
And with his championship experience and passion for the sport, certainly Guiao will take the Road Warriors to places they have never been before. He has done that with Swift, Air21, Red Bull and Rain or Shine, now all certified champion teams.