By Waylon Galvez
After agreeing to call the shots for Rain or Shine in the Asian Games, Yeng Guiao is hoping to insert Paul Lee – the player he helped nurture to become one of the finest guards in the PBA – in the team.
A reliable source said Wednesday that Guiao is targeting Lee, his top playmaker when he was still calling the shots for the ROS franchise (2011 to 2016) to be part of the national team in next month’s continental sports meet.
“Yeng wants Paul on the team. We still don’t know. We’ll see what will happen next,” said the source who has knowledge of the ongoing talks but requested not to be named.
NLEX, Guiao’s mother team in the PBA, approved the request of Rain or Shine to call the shots in the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games on Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 in Indonesia.
ROS was chosen to represent the country in the Games after topping the elims of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Last Monday, Guiao met Raymund Yu, who co-owns Rain or Shine with Terry Que, and ROS coach Caloy Garcia – his former ROS assistant coach.
Garcia has reportedly conceded the head coaching role to Guiao owing to the latter’s vast experience in international play.
Guiao made Lee the No. 2 overall pick of the Elasto Painters during the 2011 Rookie Draft and the former University of the East Red Warrior capped his first PBA season with Rookie of the Year honors.
Lee dislocated his left shoulder in Game 2 of the 2012 Governors’ Cup, which ROS won in a thrilling best-of-seven series over Magnolia (formerly B-Meg) for its first ever PBA championship.
Guiao again steered Rain or Shine to another championship during the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup and Lee emerged as the top performer as he bagged the PBA Press Corps Finals MVP – first in his career.
However, after the season, Guiao – when his contract expired with ROS – signed with NLEX, and a few days later the team dealt Lee in a blockbuster trade with Magnolia for former two-time MVP James Yap.
Guiao stint with ROS in the Asian Games will reunite him with his ROS boys like Chris Tiu, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan and Maverick Ahanmisi.
It’s also a reunion for Guiao and Yap, who played for him when he mentored the national team that placed eighth overall during the 2009 FIBA Asian Championship in Tianjin, China.
If and when the management of Magnolia approves the inclusion of Lee, Guiao will have in his disposal one of the best shooters and playmakers in the PBA, and an experienced national team member since Lee has served the country with his numerous stints with Gilas Pilipinas.
