CALL it changing of the guards– or in this case, frontline.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao is convinced signing Luis Villegas and Keith Datu, the team’s third and fourth picks overall in the 48th season PBA rookie Draft last Sunday, to three-year deals will work wonders.
“This is a good batch to stock up on big men, kailangan na naming mag-isip ng future namin, with Beau (Belga) and Mark Borboran, our bigs, they’re getting a little older,” Guiao said. “So, we need a new generation of big men so itong mga nakuha namin, we’re hoping they can take over.
“At the same time, mag-o-overlap pa sila nila Beau, so it’s a good time to mentor these young guys and maybe transfer some knowledge, experience to these guys para mapabilis ang adjustment nila,” he added.
The 6-foot-7 Villegas, 26, was a one and done standout from University of the East where he was named to the Mythical Team last season.
Datu, a 6-foot-8 slotman and a Fil-Am like Villegas, proved his worth in the pro league’s 3×3 play.
Guiao gushed on the potential of his two prized rookies.
“Si Luis, we know he’s still rehabbing. Mataas ang confidence level namin na makakabalik siya. We’ve seen enough of him in the UAAP and a little bit in the 3×3 so that’s enough for us to build confidence in what he can do,” Guiao said. “High character guy, mabait iyong bata, so tingin namin maganda iyong made-develop niyang chemistry with the rest of the team. He’s a big man who has an outside game, he’s quick, he can play wings, he can play the post, he can defend big guys, he can defend small guys, versatility is important for the bigs.
“He’s a modern big actually, mga puwedeng maglaro sa labas at loob. Same way with Keith Datu. So, we’re very happy with those two picks.”
