Ginebra San Miguel coach Tim Cone is all praises for NLEX Road Warriors (NRW) mentor Yeng Guiao for bringing the Philippines to basketball World Cup this August, stating that he has effectively taken in the pressure of being a national coach.
This, before the NRW bowed to the GSM squad 105-96 at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in a well worth-it fight Angeles City.
“I want to take this as an opportunity to just one of the reasons that we are able to say thank you to him for bringing us (PH) into the world cup. All our support and love will go to him, ” Cone said during the press conference prior to their tussle.
I think one of the reasons we’re able to do well this time is that Coach Yeng has always accepted the pressure and has taken the pressure off the players, That’s is why they’ve been able effectively. My hats off to him, ” added Cone who also served as a national team coach.
For his part, Guiao acknowledged the support of PBA, the Samahan ng Basketbolista ng Pilipinas (SBP) his predecessors, sponsors and benefactors at Gilas Pilipinas.
“The success that we had is really a combination of these, of the work ahead of me, the PBA, the SBP that’s been done by Coach Tim. I don’t think there is one person who can take credit for that. It’s the whole basketball community,” Guiao said.
The feisty national team coach is widely acknowledged for refueling inspiration in the last window for Gilas to reach the world cup.
Guiao, also a candidate for Pampanga’s first congressional district this May elections, was met with applause as he was greeted for celebrating his birthday in his hometown.
In his short speech before the game, he gamely jested in giving out tickets even to veiled Ginebra fans.
“Salamat pu keng pamanagun yu adyang eko ngan apagbigyan deng manyad tickets. Pakisabi ku mu pu na kareng adinan ming tickets, eyu namu pu pahalata ing maka Ginebra kayu”
Before their duel, Guiao led his squad went to barangays Lourdes Sur East and Claro M. Recto in Angeles City for a medical mission for some 300 persons for a Corporate Social Responsibility program.
They also toured Clark with courtesy call on CDC President Noel Manankil (get photo in NLEX chat group). NRW came out on fire with volleys of three pointers that helped them an early 18-point lead, only to lose this with the combined heroics of hometown boy Japeth Aguilar and ace guard Scottie Thompson at the jampacked AUFSC.