All throughout his legendary 27-year coaching career, coach Yeng Guiao has been known to take on “projects” who he would develop into quality players.
“Some coaches are known for winning championships,” Guiao shared last Thursday during a dinner with the members of the press.
“Ako naman, I like teaching players. It’s my niche to develop players.”
In his first year with the NLEX Road Warriors, he surprisingly drafted Fonzo Gotladera from the special Gilas draft, a player Guiao believes woll be a pivotal piece come next season.
Moreover, he called up Juami Tiongson from the D-League midway through the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Yeah, I noticed him playing well in the D-League. We needed back-up point guards that time,” Guiao recalled after NLEX’s 109-99 win over Globalport.
“Who would’ve thought? Kasi muntik na talaga akong mag-quit na,” admitted Tiongson.
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After a two-year stint with the Blackwater Elite, Tiongson was sent to the D-League back in 2016.
In the second league, Tiongson was the guest player for the Blustar Detergent Dragons, the Team B of the Malaysian Men’s National Basketball team.
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From there, he was tapped by the AMA Online Education Titans during the 2017 Aspirants Cup, where he and Jeron Teng led the franchise to its first-ever playoff appearance.
But even if his play was stellar in the D-League, the 26-year-old floor general, who had been part of four of Ateneo’s championships in their run from 2009-2012, disclosed that he was already thinking of moving on a different career path.
“Wala na talaga, I wanted to quit basketball and do something else.
“I don’t wanna be stuck in the D-League until I’m 29. So might as well,” confessed the 12th overall pick in the 2014 Draft.
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In an unlikely twist, Tiongson has become a pivotal piece in the stunning turnaround of NLEX, posting norms of 6.38 points and 1.13 assists.
Sunday night, he was also able to tally his career-best 24 points to negate his eight turnover outing.
And no one was more proud than Guiao.
“Juami Tiongson played really good today. That’s the way we want it, we want players stepping up,” Guiao remarked of his latest project. “Kevin Alas did not play bad but Juami was just playing so well that I let him finish the game.”
Meanwhille, Tiongson declared, “Sobrang thankful ako kay coach Yeng for this opportunity. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t be in the PBA.
“Parang sobrang laki nung confidence ko, thankful ako kay coach Yeng. Whether I do bad or well, parati niya akong binabalik. Parang nakakataas ng confidence,” Tiongson added, as NLEX are now on the brink of clinching a twice-to-beat advantage after finishing dead last in the first two conferences of the year.
