Guiao comes back home to Rain or Shine
IT had the feel of a family reunion.
And why not?
After six years of being part, Yeng Guiao and Rain or Shine were finally reunited as the veteran coach came back to the franchise he always considered as home.
Negotiations for the 63year-old Guiao to come on board came on short notice and was over and done with after dinner by Sunday.
"Mabilis lang ang nangyari," related Guiao, who received a phone call from Rain or Shine big bosses Raymund Yu and Terry Que on Saturday night, and then had formal talks with Yu about joining the team again almost 24 hours later.
"Ngayon tapos na. Pumirma na ako," added Guiao. "(Kasi) hindi naman na iba sa akin ang mga ito. Pamilya na ito."
The man responsible for the two PBA championships of the Elasto Painters made his way back to the Rain or Shine office on Monday to start what Yu termed as 'Book 2' of the partnership that enjoyed a relative succcess the first time they worked together.
Proof of the respect Guiao earned within the Rain or Shine family, no less than the team's top brasses came in full force to welcome their new coach.
"Masaya kaming lahat. Kumpleto kami rito para iwelcome si coach Yeng," said Que.
Yu said even his father went to the Rain or Shine headquarters to see the return of Guiao, and was joined by team governor Atty. Mamerto
Mondragon and manager Jireh Ibanez, who once played under the former Pampanga vice governor and congressman during his stint with the Elasto Painters.
"We're all happy and very excited," added Yu. "Pupunta na si coach Yeng sa practice (by Tuesday)."
Everything indeed, happened quickly as only a few days ago Guiao and former team NLEX officially parted ways in what both parties termed as a mutual decision.
Now a new journey beckons for the league's seventh winningest coach as he tries to relive his magic with the same team he steered to two titles in the 2012 Governors' Cup and 2016 Commissioner's Cup, resp ect i vel y.
Aside from the championship runs, Guiao and the Elasto Painters also went to the finals six times during a five-year stretch from 2012 to 2016. ( RG)