Yeng MVP’s choice for World Cup
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan wants coach Yeng Guiao to call the shots for Team Pilipinas not just in the remaining two windows of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup but the big event in Guangzhou, if the team makes it.
Pangilinan and Guiao shared a few laughs with several local basketball officials when the telecommunications mogul congratulated the veteran coach after the Philippines rallied to beat Qatar last Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Pangilinan told Guiao that he has already asked permission from his political supporters to let him stay on as national coach.
“I told them you’ll run in 2023,” said Pangilinan in jest.
Guiao responded by saying: “There is nothing left for me in 2023.”
Pangilinan commended Guiao for steering the national team to a comeback victory against Qatar, 92-81, at the end of the fourth window of the qualifiers.
“It was a cardiac first half,” said Pangilinan, who sat a few rows behind the national team.
“But once their shots went in, there was no stopping them. A lot of credit goes to coach Yeng,” he said. “Let’s not lose hope – we’ll get there in the World Cup. I’m confident under coach Yeng (we will qualify) in the World Cup.”
Pangilinan was then asked if Guiao – who initially agreed to coach Team Pilipinas only in the fourth window of the qualifiers – is staying on as head coach of the national team.
“Yeah. I think so. I hope all the way to the World Cup. That’s the objective, right?” Pangilinan said.
Early this month, while Guiao and the national team was in Indonesia during the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, SBP chief Al Panlilio appointed Guiao as coach of the squad for the fourth window of FIBA World Cup qualifiers while Gilas coach Chot Reyes was serving a FIBA-sanctioned one-game suspension.
His looming appointment, notwithstanding, Guiao made it clear though that he would still run for congress representing his hometown in Pampanga in next year’s elections even if he decides to stay on as coach, saying: “I’ll still run even if I accept the job… I’ll sleep for two hours. I’m losing my voice already (after this game).”
The two games in the fifth window of the qualifiers will be played here as the Philippines takes on Kazakhstan on Nov. 30 and Iran on Dec. 3, while the sixth window will have the national team play in Qatar on Feb. 21 and in Kazakhstan on Feb. 24 next year.
Only the top three teams will advance in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.