By JEREMIAH SEVILLA
Known for developing players to operate his deep rotation, NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao emphasized the importance of giving cagers a break to prove themselves in the PBA.
And that means providing them sufficient minutes to showcase their wares.
“Ang hinahanap lang ng karamihang player (What most players look for is) ‘just give me a break.’ When you say break, you’re not saying playing only two to three minutes,” said Guiao, noting that a fleeting playing time only destroys a player’s confidence.
Guiao, also the general manager of the Road Warriors, said a court action of seven to eight minutes may be enough for a player to prove his worth and get a chance to be reinserted into the game.
“When a player knows that, sa practice pa lang, magpupursige na (he will work hard even in practice).”
Just take Raul Soyud, Kenneth Ighalo and Mike Miranda as examples.
Guiao employed his tough love for these players to work their way from the reserve list en route to the 61-year-old tactician’s regular rotation.
The 6-foot-5 forward Soyud even earned a spot in the Gilas Pilipinas pool following his stellar performance in last year’s Philippine Cup bubble that saw him get nominated for the Most Improved Player award.
Guiao then used them, oftentimes Soyud, to complement his reliables in Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Alas, Jericho Cruz and JR Quiñahan in the endgame.
“When you have a deep rotation, sa akin kasi (for me), it’s not really who you start,” said the seven-time PBA champion coach.
“Puwedeng mag-starting five kahit sino, pero ang iniisip ko, sino ba ang pangtapos ko in a close game? That’s when you want to figure out who will be your solid five to end the game. That’s the basis of it all.”
Guiao will look for more diamonds in the rough with NLEX’s No. 3 and No. 4 picks in the PBA Draft next month.
