1 week Ago By N/A (Reynald I. Magallon)
Now 66, Guiao said he has practically spent half of his life with the PBA and that’s one big reason why he was just as glad as everyone to see the league achieve the 50-year anniversary milestone Through the years, the PBA has seen iconic teams, great players and even legendary coaches come and go, but some stood still, etched their mark and continued to ride through the five decades of the league. Among those is Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao who has been coaching in the PBA since 1990, back when he was only 31 years old and yet to sport his trademark bald look. Now 66, Guiao said he has practically spent half of his life with the PBA and that’s one big reason why he was just as glad as everyone to see the league achieve the 50-year anniversary milestone “P arang yung PBA kasi parte na ng buhay ko.
We cannot separate PBA from coach Yeng. Half of my life has been here in the PBA, sa coaching. Yung mga players dito nakakadalawang generation na ako na-coach,” said Guiao who certainly had found his niche at the sidelines of the league.
There, he became one of the league’s most colorful personalities and one of the most admired coaches – largely for his unorthodox ways and fiery demeanors on the sidelines to his knack for discovering and honing talents. “And that's really a privilege, a very rare privilege na maramdaman ko at ma-experience ko yung ganung privilege,” said Guiao. He, at times, can be the league’s fiercest critic, especially when it needs calling out.
But there’s no doubt that all of it was just a product of his love for the league and its fans. “‘Yung mga highlights, yung mga milestones ng PBA, yan din ang mga highlights and milestones ng buhay ko. So, this is really very important, very personal sa akin,” said the veteran mentor, who joined the rest of the league in celebrating its golden milestone, Friday, April 11, at the Solaire Hotel North.
More than the coaches, the players and the personalities that had come and gone, Guiao stressed that it was the support of the fans that allowed the PBA to survive the test of time. “I try to give my own contribution by supporting yung mga objectives din ng PBA. Most especially, just giving back to the fans,” said Guiao.
“Hindi tayo abot ng 50 years, hindi tayo sinuportahan ng mga fans. Marami tayong dinaan ng mga problema, marami tayong dinaan ng mga obstacles. But it has always been the fans who carried us through.
,” he added..
