Rarely would you hear a head coach openly talk about possible trade deals involving his own players.
Recently, NLEX Road Warriors head coach Yeng Guiao candidly discussed his team’s efforts in working on potential deals that would dispose of underachieving players and give them opportunities to gain the needed materials that will help improve on their recent Philippine Cup campaign where they ended dead last.
Apparently, Guiao has the blessing of NLEX management to make such moves after he was recently named as the team’s concurrent General Manager.
The 58-year-old Guiao, who has won seven PBA crowns in handling three ballclubs from scratch, doesn’t feel bothered about publicly discussing his desire to trade away his players.
“If you’re in last place wala kang ipagmamalaki. I guess it’s up to them how they will approach it. It could be a challenge,” said Guiao. “They can prove me wrong or they can prove me right, na tama lang ma-trade sila.”
Guiao said it has been his style to pose a challenge to his players in order for them to prove their worth not only to their team but to the league as well.
“Mahirap din in my position na if you are not producing results and assure you that you have a slot. “The logical thing to do is for you to shape up or we ship you out,” said Guiao. “I also want to know who’s going to fight for his slot. Who’s going to say na ‘sige OK lang trade nyo na ako. Or who’s going to say na, ‘hindi I want to stay with this team.”
With his experience, it can be said that Guiao knows what he’s doing, having built his previous teams Sarsi and Red Bull from scratch and eventuall made them champion ballclubs.
Before joining NLEX, Guiao led Rain or Shine to two PBA crowns.
“It’s very hard to build a winning team, much more a champion team. But ang encouragement ko lang dyan, I’ve done it before three times although I know the situations are never the same,” said Guiao “It’s not any easier this time but I feel I have the management support which is the most important.”
Last night, the Road Warriors suffered their third defeat in as many games this conference, bowing to Mahindra, 89-81 at the Araneta Coliseum. (DENNIS G. PRINCIPE)