Yeng Guiao to use NLEX’s early exit to prepare for elections

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Yeng Guiao is arguably the busiest head coach in the PBA with coaching duties getting divided to his commitments with NLEX and the Philippine national team.

He’s also a career politician who’s seeking to return to the House of Representatives as the congressman for the First District of Pampanga.

Guiao said he’s adjusted well juggling his three commitments and that scheduling hasn’t been a problem even though it’s the campaign period for the 2019 midterm elections.

“Usually, campaign is from early afternoon to night and I can balance things so far,” said Guiao Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

NLEX, however, lost its do-or-die game against Alaska, 88-80, for the final playoff spot in the PBA Philippine Cup but it was a blessing in disguise for Guiao in terms of his preparations for the elections.

“I’ll make good use of this break and right now there are no activities for the national team,” said Guiao. “This will give me a little bit more time because what I do before is go to practice in the morning, then go back to Pampanga around lunch time.”

Guiao, however, thought that NLEX could’ve cracked the playoffs with how his team showed positivity during their practices.

That positivity, however, didn’t translate to wins leaving the Road Warriors to regroup and wait for star sophomore Kiefer Ravena to return from his Fiba-imposed 18-month suspension that started in May 2018.

There’s also the absence of Ravena’s backcourt partner Kevin Alas, who’s recovering from a knee injury.

“I was feeling that we’ll make the next round, I saw the mood in practice, and I can see it in my players that they have this high morale, they’ve been working hard but they weren’t able to translate it into the game,” said Guiao in Filipino.

“I think we sorely missed Keving and Kiefer at the point guard position, we need steady point guard work which I felt was lacking with our point guards.”