YENG Guiao may have just solidified his position as the national team coach through to the 2019 Fiba World Cup, if Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan is asked.
The soft-spoken executive said he was impressed with how Guiao kept calm and rallied Team Pilipinas from the depths of an early 17-point deficit on the way to a 92-81 win over Qatar on Monday night.
"I think so. I hope all the way to the World Cup. Yun ang objective, di ba?," Pangilinan said when asked about Guiao's tenure as national coach after the closed-door game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Pangilinan admitted he was on the edge of his seat when nothing was going right for the Philippines in the first half, but was relieved to see the home team get its act together in the second half.
He made special mention of Scottie Thompson's rebounding.
"Naka-cardiac yung first half pero once their shots went in, nagsunod-sunod na. Scottie Thompson did a yeoman job on rebounding and credit to all the players, but a lot of credit goes to coach Yeng. Nakaka-relieve yun," he said.
After the close call, Pangilinan is more confident than ever that Team Pilipinas can earn a place in the 2019 Fiba World Cup in China.
"Wag tayo mawalan ng pag-asa. We’ll get there sa World Cup. I’m confident that under coach Yeng, (we will qualify) sa World Cup," he said.
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