Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao is surprised with how decent his ElastoPainters have been performing in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“I did not really appreciate, coming from the outside, (this team),” he said with a chuckle on the heels of a 113-96 win over Meralco on Saturday night. “Looking at the team, you’d belittle it.”
Guiao pretty much inherited this bunch from the untested Chris Gavina. Half of the roster is either a rookie or a sophomore.
And yet, these ElastoPainters are 3-3 halfway through the import-laden conference.
Guiao said that much of Rain or Shine’s relative success stems from the purity of his players’ intentions.
“Once you’re inside (the team) you’re going to see potential, (the players’) desire, and their motivations. And they’re all obedient. They’re not difficult to talk to, either. You say something and they do it. I don’t think I have ever become angry with them,” the fiery champion coach said.
That, he said, fosters an environment that translates on the court.
Guiao also said that the team’s youth brigade—led by freshman Gian Mamuyac and second-year forward Mike Nieto—has been commendable thus far.
“I’m seeing the youngsters, they’re feisty. They know how to fight. I keep on telling them to wise up. Basketball, after all, is a smart man’s game,” he said.
“They have responded. As I’ve said, the upside that these guys have is really great,” he said.
On tap for Rain or Shine is a red-hot Phoenix side that has won three straight.
“We need to be able to keep up with them. We know they play a lot of zone, we know that they’ve been shooting well,” Guiao said.
“We got ourselves a problem on Wednesday.”