Yeng Guiao’s ties with the Pineda clan could be considered familial given how deep it runs, but that will be put aside once they set foot on the hardwood.
The champion mentor asserted that it will be all business when he faces some of his ‘kabalen’ as Rain or Shine and Converge prepare for a best-of-three series in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
“Parang pamilya sila,” he said. “Pero pagdating sa ganito, siyempre mauuna muna ‘yung interest ng Rain or Shine. Laban laban talaga ‘to.”
Guiao said as much on Friday night, shortly after the Elasto Painters pulled off a 106-96 victory over TNT in the final game of the elimination round.
They clinched the sixth seed following the triumph, forging a duel with the third-seeded team — the FiberXers, who finished the preliminaries at 8-4.
And so, the 65-year-old bench tactician finds himself gearing up for a coaching battle ahead against a team that features a number of Kapampangans, led of course by Dennis Pineda, the incumbent governor of Pampanga.
Guiao is close to ‘Gov Delta’ and his family hugely because of the Pineda matriarch, Lilia, with whom he served as vice governor from 2010 to 2013.
‘Tita Baby,’ as he addresses her, began her political career during the time of Bren Z. Guiao as governor (1986-1995). She first served as mayor of Lubao from 1992 to 2010 before becoming governor from 2010 to 2019.
But aside from the Pinedas, he also has a deep bond with Converge co-founder Dennis Uy as well as team governor Archen Cayabyab, who is his godson.
“Actually, malapit ako roon sa mga yun,” said Guiao, who also served as a congressman. “Sobrang malapit ako kina Delta at Dennis Uy.”
Then again, none of that would matter when they all meet together on the basketball court as Guiao’s focus will solely be on steering his side to wins.
“Ibang usapan ‘to eh,” he said, smiling.
