Yeng pinning hopes on young Painters

Yeng Guiao is looking forward to the maturity of the young Rain or Shine core in the Philippine Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Guiao said their management is geared towards the future, prompting it to extend the contracts of young stars Leonard Santillan and Anton Asistio.

Santillan, a hardworking forward, signed a new three-year deal while Asistion, a deadeye gunner, was given a two-year extension.

“I think the career path they want to undergo is aligned with the philosophy of Rain or Shine which is to keep the young core of players,” Guiao said.

“That’s the direction we want to go and these players want to continue to become a part of it.”

Unlike other squads whose young players were kept on the bench, the Elasto Painters were pinning their hopes on the fresh faces in the past three conferences with Guiao on board.

“We won’t wait for them to mature,” Guiao, who gained a reputation of turning a role player into a star, said.

“We want them to mature quickly and the only way you can do that is to give them more exposure, give them more opportunity. We’re not like other teams where new or young players were considered as work in progress.”

“In our system, you will progress while playing, learn from your mistakes while playing and, possibly, becoming mentally and physically tough even when you’re young — and the only way to do that is to let you play.”

True enough, young stars have blossomed under Guiao’s system.

Rookie Keith Datu immediately made his presence felt despite playing only seven games in the eliminations of the Commissioner’s Cup due to injury and sickness. He, however, submitted impressive numbers of 11.6 points, including a steady 42.9 percent shooting from the three-point area, with 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

Adrian Nocum, a second-round pick in the recent draft, also hit the ground running as he chipped in 9.1 points despite joining the Painters late due to his prior commitment in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

The Painters will also welcome 6-foot-7 Luis Villegas, the third overall pick in the recent draft, in the coming all-Filipino wars after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.