Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
NLEX guard Kevin Alas caromed into his coach Yeng Guiao after getting bumped by Rain or Shine swingman Gabe Norwood late in the third quarter.
Norwood quickly apologized to his former coach, who nearly lost his balance after Alas crashed into him near the officials table, and the two had a good laugh.
Nearly a year after parting ways with Rain or Shine, Guiao still feels strange being on the opposing bench and going against most of the players he shared a couple of championships and countless playoff games with.
READ: NLEX coach Guiao: I won’t help dismantle Rain or Shine
“To beat Rain or Shine is a testament to the progress that we’ve made,” said Guiao after the Road Warriors clipped the Elasto Painters, 122-114, in double overtime. “It’s also a weird and awkward feeling beating that team because sometimes I think I’m still the coach of that team. I haven’t really gotten over that 100%.”
“I feel like that’s my team, they’re my boys but like I said, we’re on different sides now and I have to get used to that,” he added.
Guiao was appointed as NLEX coach in October 2016 five months after steering Rain or Shine to its second title in the Commissioner’s Cup.
READ: NLEX looking forward to Governor’s Cup, says Guiao
Caloy Garcia, who was Guiao’s deputy then, was promoted to head coach and up to now, he still tries to pick up a few things from the fiery mentor.
“I miss coach Yeng. He was a good mentor. Until now, I still try to watch his games as much as possible and try to learn from him still,” said Garcia, who was 2-0 against Guiao coming into the game.
After finishing dead last in the standings in the first two conferences, NLEX finds itself on top this time with a franchise-best start at 3-0.
READ: NLEX hikes win run to 3
But Guiao opted to downplay his team’s undefeated run so far.
“It feels good to win this time, it’s the opposite feeling of the losing streak, which we felt, experienced before. Now we have a winning streak,” said Guiao, whose squad has now won five in a row dating back to last conference.
“But again, it doesn’t make us a contender this conference. We’re not yet a contender, we’re not yet at that level of the competing teams. Not Rain or Shine, not even Alaska, who we beat. We’re just having a good run.”