Former Rain or Shine coach and now NLEX mentor Yeng Guiao. PBA IMAGES
SO much for the PBA’s most consistent team staying together.
With the man who built the Rain or Shine playoff-appearance machine taking his act somewhere else, Elasto Painters management Thursday gave away two pieces of its rock-solid core, with JR Quiñahan and superstar point guard Paul Lee finding themselves going to GlobalPort and Star.
GlobalPort gave up the veteran Jay Washington, while Star dealt away former two-time MVP James Yap in deals approved Thursday, and it came as a surprise to many, especially since the duo did not follow old coach Yeng Guiao to NLEX.
READ: Rain or Shine ships Paul Lee to Star for James Yap
In six years, Guiao transformed the Painters to perennial title threats, guiding them to two championships and nine straight Final Four appearances that was just snapped when Rain or Shine bowed out in the quarterfinals of the on-going Governors’ Cup.
Guiao, though, said he will not have a hand in dismantling the core he painstakingly built–—unless, of course, deals bounce his way at NLEX.
“I won’t make an effort to ‘pirate’ them, management is negotiating with them,” Guiao told the Inquirer. “If they feel that the offer is good (with Rain or Shine), they don’t have to join me here (at NLEX).
READ: Washington traded for Quiñahan; Lee offered 3-year extension
“But if the offer is not acceptable to them and the negotiations break down, and they are offered as trades, then I am definitely interested,” Guiao added.
“I don’t have a gentleman’s agreement (with ROS management) in not getting my former players,” Guiao went on. “I don’t want to (have a hand) in destroying the Rain or Shine team and I don’t want to strain my relationship with them (ROS owners Terry Que and Raymund Yu).”
“But I am open to trading with them, if they are open for trades. We (NLEX) are an option.”