NLEX coach Yeng Guiao. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Yeng Guiao is known for his fiery demeanor that he often unleashes during games.
Be it on game officials, opposing players, or even his own team, no one is safe from Guiao’s competitive fire and it was once again in full display when NLEX lost to Alaska, 88-80, in the do-or-die game for the last playoffs spot in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Guiao called a timeout with 3:32 left in the first quarter with the Aces leading 33-22 and it was star center Poy Erram who was on the receiving end of an earful from the multi-titled mentor.
“Be stronger, you’re too easy to push around,” said Guiao.
Erram, though, took his criticism positively and he owned up to his mistake after finishing with 10 points ad 19 rebounds.
The 6-foot-7 center took to Twitter to air his side regarding the incident where he acknowledged that he was wrong and Guiao was only motivating the Road Warriors.
“I admit what I did and I want to apologize for it,” said Erram. “My emotions got the best of me. Sorry for doing that, I’m only human. I make mistakes and now I regret it.”
“Sometimes I do stupid things but that’s now who I am. I am a working progress. Again I sincerely apologize for this instance,” added Erram.
Guiao said that him cursing and shouting at his players is normal for the team and the Road Warriors have accepted that kind of tough love.
“That’s normal for us, they accept that,” said Guiao. “We talk about that prior to them joining the team, so it’s just part of our culture.
Guiao said that he is disappointed with the loss especially with how the Road Warriors failed to put up a respectable fight against the Aces.
Alaska took a 23-17 lead after the first quarter and the Road Warriors ultimately folded under the Aces’ pressure.
“Of course we’re very disappointed, I thought we could at least give ourselves a chance to win the game but we never got to the point where we threatened Alaska,” said Guiao. “So I guess that’s the more disappointing thing to us is that we were not able to give ourselves a chance to be in the game and put a little more pressure on Alaska.”
“We know this is our most important game this conference but we did not play it the way the occasion was called for,” added Guiao.