PBA commissioner Willie Marcial wants Yeng Guiao to coach the national team in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Marcial said he believes Guiao's tenure as national coach should go beyond the Fiba Basketball World Cup from August 30 to September 15 and continue until the SEA Games which the country will host from November 30 to December 11.
“Malamang si coach Yeng ang mag-coach sa SEA Games,” Marcial said on Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Amelie Hotel Manila.
Philippine Olympic Committee president and PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will most likely form an all-PBA team for the SEA Games separate from the one to be sent to the World Cup.
In the last SEA Games, Jong Uichico, then an assistant to national coach Chot Reyes, led a squad made up mostly of Gilas Pilipinas cadet players to the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur.
For Marcial, appointing Guiao to the SEA Games job makes the most sense.
“Kasi national team coach natin siya. Pag hiningi sa atin ni chairman (Vargas) na maglaro ang PBA, ibibigay namin. Sino national coach natin? Si coach Yeng. So siya ang magco-coach nun,” said Marcial.
When pressed for comment, Guiao said it might be difficult to decline the job if offered to him.
“Napakahirap tangihan ‘yung mga ganyan. Actually, nung una, sabi ko tatanggihan ko. May mga iba akong plano,” said Guiao.
Guiao though admitted his main focus right now is the World Cup.
“Wala pa sa isip ko ‘yun at hindi naman ako binibigyan ng instructions regarding the SEA Games. Its not in my consciousness. ‘Yung mga boss natin ang magde-decide,” said the concurrent NLEX coach.
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