There’s a pattern emerging in the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ recent wins this PBA Commissioner’s Cup: They’ll run and gun to a big lead in the middle quarters, lose much of that big lead in the fourth, and then do just enough to win.
It’s maybe a worrying trend that needs fixing. But it’s also been an opportunity—a chance for Yeng Guiao to give his rookies more and more minutes.
And in Wednesday’s win over the Terrafirma Dyip, Guiao took things up a notch, putting his rookies in the fourth quarter and leaving them in even as the Dyip began eating away at the 26-point lead the Elasto Painters had built. Josh David had fourth-quarter minutes, and so did Christian Manaytay. Meanwhile, Jun Roque and Deo Cuajao finished the game or Rain or Shine.
The Yeng Guiao Rite of Passage?
All of that, of course, is by design and Guiao’s way of testing his first-year finds. And as is always the case with the fiery tactician, there’s a method to the madness and a reason for the gamble—it’s what’s best for the future.
“We tried to give our rookies some live game experience today so we tried to give them extended minutes and try to rest our regular guys for future battles,” Guiao told reporters after Rain or Shine’s seventh win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. “I thought I could take the risk of playing our rookies more minutes and give them game experience, para tumibay sa future.”
Basically, Guiao is making his Rain or Shine rookies earn their keep. It’s necessary, if you ask Guiao, although he himself admits it comes with risks.
“Sinusubukan ko sila. Of course, it’s always a risky move but at the same time hindi ka naman aasenso kung hindi mo bibigyan ng pagkakataon na masubukan sila sa, ‘yun nga, live game situation,” the veteran mentor added.
Guiao Is Liking What He Is Seeing
The returns so far have been encouraging, as all four of Manaytay, Roque, David, and Cuajao are proving they can contribute whenever their numbers are called. And it looks like they’re winning over their infamously hard-to-please coach.
“Nakikita ko sila sa practice, masipag. They’re hard workers, and they deserve a chance,” concluded Guiao. “‘Yung ibinigay kong minutes kanina pinagtrabahuhan nila iyon at nasuklian naman. Actually, masaya ako du’n sa performance nila.”
In the end, it’s safe to say Guiao is stockpiling weapons for Rain or Shine’s future battles.
