For guiding Rain or Shine to its breakthrough title in the Governors’ Cup, Yeng Guiao will be feted as the PBA Press Corps’ Coach of the Year during its 19th Annual Awards presented by Smart and PLDT at Kamayan Edsa on Monday.
Guiao won the award for the second time over Talk ‘N Text’s Chot Reyes and B-Meg’s Tim Cone.
Rain or Shine owners Terry Que and Raymund Yu will share the stage with Guiao as Executive of the Year, with forward Jireh Ibanes taking the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Gary David of defunct Powerade, after shooting close to 26 points a game, won the first-ever Scoring Champ award in the proceedings which former Olympian and senator Freddie Webb will grace as guest of honor.
Guiao turned Rain or Shine into a winner in his first full year as coach of the franchise, compiling a 31-22 mark—the first time the Elasto Painters finished a year above .500—capped by a Game 7 triumph over Cone’s Llamados.
Meanwhile, Asi Taulava has reportedly held out on signing a two-year contract extension with Meralco so he could sign up with San Miguel in the Asean Basketball League.
Details of the deal are being kept under wraps by Taulava’s handlers, who ignored a P10 million extension. Musong R. Castillo