JUST how great of a coach is Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao?
Consider this: Japan B.League squad Koshigaya Alpas tactician Ryuzo Anzai paid a visit to the Elasto Painters’ practice recently and watched the team’s game against Magnolia in the PBA Philippine Cup last Sunday night.
Seven-foot-3 prized center Kai Sotto plays for Alpas and his dad Ervin’s previous stint as assistant to Guiao at NLEX made it all possible.
“Kai is doing his rehab and he is doing it here. Kinontak kami ni Ervin. Ervin was my assistant in NLEX. Nandito iyong Japanese coach ni Kai. Siyempre, lahat naman ng coaches, they want to experience iyong iba-ibang sistema, iba-ibang styles ng ibang coaches. So, they asked if they could attend our practice,” Guiao said. “Sabi ko, walang problema naman. Basta naman hindi competition, okay lang. Kahit sino naman, puwedeng manood. Huwag lang iyong direct competition. So, sabi ko, sige, you can watch.
“Dumating sila sa practice and then sabi nila, gusto nila manood ng laro. Sabi ko, okay lang. Para ma-experience nila iyong local basketball natin,” he added.
Guiao said he has long been comfortable with the father-son duo.
“Even Kai, when I was in NLEX, he was playing with our team before he went abroad, kapag nagpapa-kundisyon siya. So, I think they felt comfortable being former associates, iyong tatay niya and at the same time, dati naman siyang nakikipaglaro sa team ko,” Guiao said. “Si coach Anzai, ikinukuwento nila Kai at ni Ervin, kaya daw gustong makita iyong practice or laro namin dahil medyo pareho kami ng temperament.
“Ganoon din daw siya. So, sabi ko, birds of the same feather, flock together talaga. Kaya medyo maganda iyong kuwentuhan namin.”
With the younger Sotto, still recuperating from an ACL injury suffered last January, watching along with showbiz girlfriend Rere Madrid, and Anzai, Rain or Shine handed the Hotshots their first loss of the season-ending tilt—a 119-105 ripping at faraway and newly-built Ynares Center II in Montalban town in Rizal Province.
Guiao also gave Anzai some key coaching lesson.
“Sinasabi ko, iyong sikreto, sabi ko, kasi magagalit iyong players nila kapag hindi nila alam iyong ma-e-expect nila. So, ako, sabi ko, once we sign them, they know what they’re in for, sabi ko,” he said. “Kasi ikinukuwento ni Ervin noon na minsan, iyong mga players nila sa Japan, nagtatampo.
“Sabi ko, para hindi magtampo, dapat alam na nila kaagad kung ano iyong pinapasukan nila. So, management of expectations lang talaga.”
