Just like any fan, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao was floored by the amount of talent inside the Meralco Gym during the team’s first practice in preparation for the first window of the second round of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Monday.
On the other side, there were San Miguel Beermen guards Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter; Magnolia Hotshots slotman Ian Sangalang, and Barangay Ginebra stars Scottie Thompson and Greg Slaughter.
Holdovers from the past Gilas Elite team were Matthew Wright, Allein Maliksi, and Japeth Aguilar.
Though it’s not the optimal Gilas team as nine of the National Team’s pool players were suspended by the International Basketball Federation. Still, it was the best possible team Guiao could form given the circumstances.
“We are awed, we are delighted at having the most talented players in the PBA in one building, in one court.
“Matagal-tagal na hindi natin naiipon, nabri-bring together this kind of talent. And you can see that there’s a difference in just knowing that these guys are the most talented, the best players in the PBA and they’re willing to make that sacrifice to represent us,” Guiao gushed.
This was made possible by the trust given by th PBA Board of Governors and the SBP on Guiao. But with the trust comes pressure, the decorated mentor added.
“Thanks to the cooperation of the PBA and the SBP that all of these things are possible, which alam natin nung araw, nagkaroon ng mga… hindi ko alam kung anong itatawag natin dun,” expressed Guiao, who is sitting in in lieu of the suspended Chot Reyes.
“There hasn’t been a situation where the feeling is light, the feeling is good, the feeling is upbeat and siguro it just puts a little bit pressure on me. Because as I said, now that the talent is here, the next question is how am I as a coach going to be able to orchestrate this talent and make them play good basketball together as a team.”
Seeing how open the PBA is to Guiao, no other than SBP chairman-emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan is calling for him to be the full-time head coach of Gilas.
However, Guiao could not commit himself to this huge responsibility as prior to this, he already had plans to run for office once again as congressman of the first district of Pampanga.
“It will affect yung mga previous na mga plans na I feel importante rin sa career at buhay din natin,” shared Guiao.
“Pero any coach would love the position of national coach. Yan ang pangarap ng lahat ng coaches and I’m one of them. Kung hindi lang na-set yung mga ibang plano, I’ll grab that.
“Kasi I’m running for Congress. October is the filing for certificate of candidacy so once I file, I have to work there also. Kailangan ko din mag-trabaho doon. Ang tanong, kung naka-file ka na and then you’re formally campaigning, would that be fair to the national team or would that be fair also to team for trying to do that,” Guiao disclosed.
“Gusto ko naman e lalo na kung okay kay Chot na magbigay siya. Gusto ko yan, lahat ng coaches gusto yan. Especially you feel that after the Asian Games, parang may feeling ka na parang kaya, alam ko na yung diskarte dito, parang ganoon. Mayroon kang ganoong feeling pero papaano yun? ,” he added.
But there is still a task at hand for Guiao and his men. Before making any decisions, he and Gilas Pilipinas have to conquer Iran on the road first and Qatar at home four days later.
