National team coach Yeng Guiao

Even before his Asian Games tour of duty has been completed, national team coach Yeng Guiao had his tenure extended after the basketball federation of the Philippines named him as coach for the next window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers happening next month.
The NLEX Road Warriors coach will take the place of Chot Reyes, who will serve a one-game ban in connection with the brawl that happened between the Philippines and Australia on July 2 in the third window of the qualifiers.
The Philippines will be taking on Iran on Sept. 13 and Qatar on Sept. 17 where it hopes to bag victories to help propel its cause of advancing to the World Cup next year in China.
The Qatar game, which will be played here, is to be held behind closed doors as part of the sanctions meted by FIBA on the country in connection with the brawl with Australia that happened at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
Named as coach for the next window is definitely another nod on the abilities of Guiao, who has been a noted bench tactician for almost three decades now.
It, however, would present a major challenge to him considering majority of Gilas Pilipinas players will be serving varying numbers of suspension for their role in the July brawl.
Suspended by FIBA over unsportsmanlike behavior were Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright (one game each); Terence Romeo, Jayson Castro William, Andray Blatche and Troy Rosario (three games each); Roger Pogoy, Carl Bryan Cruz and Jio Jalalon (five games each); and Calvin Abueva (six games).
Then again if there is someone who is up to such a challenge it has to be Guiao.
One thing about the coach is he has his vision clear, knows exactly what he wants in relation to what needs to be achieved.
Case in point is the ongoing Asian Games in Indonesia where he is leading a squad hurriedly assembled because of little time to prepare.
In light of the circumstances they were in, Guiao and the rest of his team decided to send the core of the Rain or Shine team in the Philippine Basketball Association and backstopped by “strategically” selected players from the other teams.
And so far the tack has been doing well as the team routed Kazakhstan, 96-59, in its opening game in Group D on Aug. 16 and given a good chance against China in their game scheduled game later yesterday, which would see Filipino-American National Basketball Association Jordan Clarkson make his debut for the Philippines.
That being said, this space has no doubt that Guiao can hold his own in the next window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers and that his selection, notwithstanding its pinch-hitting in nature, is but a good one.
To Coach Yeng, all the best in the ongoing Asiad and congratulations for the added coaching recognition in the World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@bworldonline.com