Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Yeng Guiao will have the freedom in building the team with NLEX, the same way he was given leeway in his previous coaching stints.
That’s the one thing guaranteed by Road Warriors team manager Ronald Dulatre as the crew enters a new era with the multi-titled mentor now at the helm.
“I will give him the free hand in assessing the team, from the players to the coaches,” Dulatre told INQUIRER.net.
NLEX hired the former Rain or Shine coach on Wednesday and met the management on Friday as he embarks on a new challenge in building up another contender after his five-year stay with Rain or Shine.
Guiao replaced Boyet Fernandez, who is still part of the team in a different capacity.
Dulatre said the next few days will be crucial in the formation of the NLEX squad with Guiao meeting the coaching staff on Monday and the players on Tuesday.
“Basically, we’re just tackling what we have. Coach Yeng is coming on his own and I know he’s fine working with the coaching staff naman. If they are comfortable working with him, he’s fine working with them, too,” he said.
Dulatre is also optimistic that the appointment of Guiao allows NLEX to finally get over the hump and be a legitimate championship contender.
“We’re just showing na were serious as far as developing yung team natin,” he said. “We believe that we’re going to the next level, which we think coach Yeng, knowing him, can do. When we identified all those things for improvement, we know na si coach Yeng yung makakatulong namin to address those issues.”
“We’re looking at it one conference at a time. We’re not rushing naman. Siguro di na kami magpapahuli sa other teams. We have the materials and with the hiring of coach Yeng, with some tweaking, we can go to the next level.”
Guiao steered Rain or Shine to a couple of championships, including the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup. 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.