It’s no secret Rain or Shine Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao has turned no-names into solid players or even stars. Now, he’s turning Caelan Tiongson into a PBA superstar.
Known more in the ABL as a tireless rebounder and tenacious defender, Tiongson is transforming into a fine do-it-all forward for Guiao and Rain or Shine. He’s even become a dangerous sniper from downtown, and he proved that yet again in the Elasto Painters’ 96-95 escape act against the Meralco Bolts on Saturday as he drilled a trey ball and an all-important four-pointer in the fourth to fuel Rain or Shine’s furious fightback.
After the game, Caelan Tiongson credited Guiao for his transformation.
“How I’m playing basketball is a credit to Coach Yeng,” Tiongson said in the postgame presser after Rain or Shine’s opening-night win. “He wants me super aggressive. I think when I came onto this team, he saw what ability I had and he gives me a lot of free rein and confidence… When I catch the ball, it’s a little bit delusional, but I think every shot I shoot right now is gonna go in.”
More to Come from Caelan Tiongson
Last season, Caelan Tiongson averaged just under 13 points per game but got better and better as the season wore on, ultimately ending Season 49 with a career-high 30-point outing in Rain or Shine’s final game—a 97-89 Game 6 loss to the TNT Tropang 5G that booted the Elasto Painters out of the Philippine Cup.
On Saturday, he began Season 50 with a 23-point output, and it’s no doubt a sign that the 33-year-old forward is primed for an even bigger year ahead. That’s especially true now that Tiongson has had a full year of Guiao’s tutelage and has become a lot more confident.
“I think it’s just familiarity,” Tiongson pointed out. “The most Coach yelled at me last year was when I didn’t shoot the ball. Throughout the year, it was an adjustment for me to realize what he’s looking for. Now that I have a better understanding of it, I’m just playing more free, more confident.”
But it doesn’t mean Tiongson can just let it fly no matter what. Guiao, in the same presser, emphasized that he wants his sophomore forward taking good shots—and that he doesn’t mind Tiongson missing as long as he’s taking good shots.
Given how hard Caelan Tiongson works—and Guiao himself attests to this—he better be taking those shots.
