Great talent, big burden

Yeng Guiao rattles off instructions during Gilas Pilipinas’ first training session at Meralco Gym on Monday. —DENISON REY A. DALUPANG

That there is no shortage of talent for Yeng Guiao and the 20-man national team pool as it begins its build-up for the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers should have been a reason for the mercurial mentor to be relieved.

Instead, Guiao admitted the glut of stars who have answered the call to represent the country “makes me nervous.”

After all, former national coach Rajko Toroman has already billed the next Gilas squad as the “greatest ever,” and Guiao has yet to make the final cut.

“I think that will only be proven with the accomplishment you’re able to achieve,” Guiao countered.

The Nationals began their preparation for the games against Kazakhstan and Iran on Monday at Meralco Gym without six players who are still playing in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals and two cagers who were at that time unavailable.

“On paper, the team is stacked,” he said. “But let’s wait until the results come in.”

In the end, that’s what matters: results. While there is the relief that the Philippine team will be fielding the best of the best, the burden of shepherding that squad weighs heavily on Guiao’s shoulders.

“It puts a little bit pressure on us, but that’s the way it is,” he admitted. “We’re actually very lucky all these players are made available by the PBA and their mother teams.”

Bannering the pool is 4-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, who could finally realize a pairing with fellow towering big man Greg Slaughter, which Filipino spectators had been long hoping for.

The pool also includes UP Maroons-commit Ricci Rivero and 7-foot-1 high schooler Kai Sotto.

The talent is so deep that Guiao finds himself sometimes leaning back to take in what’s in front of him.

“It’s really a dream of a lot of basketball fans that we’re able to gather the best … so I think I’ll just enjoy it,” he said.  “I’ll just be a regular basketball fan. Pwede naman i-separate ‘yun as being the head coach of this team.

“Ito ‘yung matagal mo nang pinapangarap, matagal mo nang ini-imagine, ngayon naging totoo. So I’ll enjoy that moment.”

Guiao and the Nationals are slated to play a pair of Asian teams in a couple of tune-up games. They lock horns with Jordan on Nov. 19 and 21 and take on Lebanon on Nov. 23 and 25.

The Filipinos resume their bid for a slot in the Fiba World Cup later this month. They tackle Kazakhstan on Nov. 30 and then Iran on Dec. 3. Both games will be at Mall of Asia Arena.