Fonacier and Quiñahan to play for Yeng Guiao anew
NINE years since their separation, Yeng Guiao has always been on a lookout for Larry Fonacier, a player whom he considers to be the biggest steal in the 2005 Rookie Draft.
Picked in the second round ( 14th overall) by Red Bull, Mr. Fonacier quickly became an integral part of Mr. Guiao’s system and just in his rookie year, he was able to play in the finals of the two-conference format that season, winning a championship in the Fiesta Conference.
When the financially challenged Barako Bull was forced to unload its marquee players to sustain its participation in the PBA, Mr. Fonacier was one of those forced to release.
But Mr. Guiao has always been a fan of Mr. Fonacier’s game — silent but effective, who can shoot the lights out at any given night.
So when Mr. Guiao, now coaching the NLEX Road Warriors, got the chance of snaring the Baby Face Assassin from Ateneo, the fiery mentor didn’t hesitate in reacquiring the deadly, former Gilas Pilipinas gunner.
Mr. Fonacier, along with JR Quiñahan, also a former player of Mr. Guiao at Rain or Shine, were among those picked up the Road Warriors in this busy week. They’ve landed in their fold Alex Mallari earlier, as their retooling process continues in hope of finally salvaging a win in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup.
NLEX has yet to win a game in eight matches and Mr. Guiao and his team was forced to make drastic measures.
“Definitely, we have to shake it up. There’s no justification to keep the team as it is. It’s no secret that we’ve been exploring trade options. Now, we’ve made this serious talk become a reality. Before, we were holding back. Now, we’ve become more aggressive in making trades.”
Mr. Guiao had won championships with Messrs. Fonacier and Quiñahan.
Mr. Quiñahan was a 6-foot-6 player of Mr. Guiao and was part of his two championship teams with Rain or Shine.
NLEX team manager Ronald Dulatre told BusinessWorld in an interview that Mr. Quiñahan has always been in the radar of Mr. Guiao and made a pitch on him earlier. The veteran slotman landed with GlobalPort at the start of the season, but the Road Warriors didn’t give up pursuing the services of the former University of Visayas Green Lancers, who had improved by leaps and bounds last season, leading to the Elasto Painters’ championship under Mr. Guiao. —