JERICHO Cruz and Don Trollano can look at their thriving basketball careers and see that they would not be where they are now if not for Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, who picked them during the PBA draft many years ago.
The duo are now making waves as part of the San Miguel Beer rotation which, interestingly, is battling Guiao's team and threatening to crush it in their PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup face-off for a place in the finals.
Rain or Shine trails San Miguel 0-2 in the best-of-seven series ahead of must-win Game 3 on Wednesday. A loss likely will end its season as only one team has come back from a 0-3 playoff deficit to advance.
That team was San Miguel in the 2015-16 Philippine Cup in a historic feat that was immortalized as the 'Beeracle.'
But Cruz and Trollano do not expect the Elasto Painters to simply wilt and die. They see a feisty team fighting to the end to save the season because it is a team led by Guiao, who they knew first hand as a tough competitor.
Cruz and Trollano spent the early part of their respective PBA careers under Guiao before moving to San Miguel where they won a championship together during this season’s Commissioner's Cup.
The two players said that without Guiao, a PBA career for them would not have been possible.
Trollano thankful to Coach Yeng
“Ako, sobrang thankful ako kay coach Yeng,” said Trollano. “Siya actually ‘yung nag-draft sa akin at binigyan niya ako ng opportunity."
The 32-year-old was referring to the 2015 draft where Trollano was picked in the second round, 15th overall, by Rain or Shine. Trollano became part of Rain or Shine’s second unit during his first three seasons before being traded to TNT in the early part of 2018.
It was while he was with the Tropang Giga that Guiao picked him to be part of the Gilas Pilipinas team for the 2018 Asian Games. Unfortunately, the stint never materialized. His spot was taken over by NBA player Jordan Clarkson, who was naturalized to become a member of the Philippine team.
It was not long after that Trollano found himself playing under Guiao again. He was then playing for Blackwater when he was traded to NLEX. It was there where Trollano's career experienced a resurgence that he earned a spot as an All-Star.
“I’m so thankful na siya ‘yung nag-pick sa akin. And then, later on, naging coach ko uli siya. Binigyan niya uli ako ng chance,” said Trollano. He soon left NLEX after he was traded to San Miguel earlier this season.
‘He gave me the chance to prove myself’
It was also at NLEX where Cruz thrived. But years before his stint with the Road Warriors, Cruz was also selected by Guiao in the draft at No. 9 in 2014 with the Elasto Painters.
Cruz enjoyed one of the best seasons of his PBA career during his sophomore year. He averaged 12.5 points during the 2015-2016 season and won the Most Improved Player award. That year also saw Rain or Shine capture its second title when they ruled the Commissioner’s Cup.
Cruz was reunited with Guiao in 2019 when he was traded from TNT to NLEX where he took his career to a different level. During the bubble season the following year, Cruz had career-highs in most statistical categories, including in scoring at 13.2 points.
Later, when he became an unrestricted free agent, Cruz got a chance to play for a team many players only dream about. He signed with San Miguel Beer in 2022.
To this day, Cruz, who calls himself a "nobody" while playing for Adamson, remains grateful to Guiao for the opportunity the coach had given him. He did not have a gloiwing PBA start, but Guiao stayed with him and continued to trust him.
“’Yung career ko, I have to give it to coach Yeng,” said Cruz. “Without coach Yeng, wala rin ako ngayon. Kung ano ‘yung meron ako lahat ngayon, it’s because of coach Yeng. He was the one that gave me the chance to prove myself.”
“For a guy na hindi masyadong kilala sa college, siya ‘yung nagbigay sa akin ng opportunity. Lahat ng kung anong meron ako, I owe to coach Yeng ‘yun. Hindi ko makakalimutan ‘yun hanggang sa mawala ako sa basketball,” said Cruz.
“Kahit sino, kapag tinatanong nila ako, sino ‘yung nagbigay ng chance sa 'yo, I’ll always say na si coach Yeng. Siya ‘yung pinaka-coach na tumatak sa akin na talagang nandyan para sa akin,” he added.
Now 33, Cruz may have moved on by playing for a different team, but he sees a connection with the current batch of youthful Rain or Shine players who are trying to make the most out the opportunity provided to them.
“I’m so happy sa nangyayari kila [Jhonard] Clarito, kila [Adrian] Nocum, sila Andrei [Caracut], [Gian] Mamuyac, those guys are kilala sa college but they are not the main guys (yet). Parang ako, nakikita ko sarili ko sa mga players na ‘yun na knowing coach Yeng, bibigyan ka ng chance basta maganda ang pinapraktis mo, you work hard, you go in there and prove yourself na kaya mo, he will give you a chance,” said Cruz.
“Kahit kapag nasa bench ako, parang ako ‘yung dating ganyan nung nagsisimula pa lang ako kay coach Yeng. Kaya super happy ako sa mga up-and-coming, sobrang galing na nila and hopefully, ma-maintain nila. Hopefully, one day, maisip din nila si coach Yeng na si coach Yeng ang nagbigay ng break sa kanila,” said Cruz.
Cruz, Trollano expect comeback from Yeng's ROS
Speaking of the coming game, Cruz said he is expecting a big fightback from Rain or Shine even though the Elasto Painters are now down 0-2 in their best-of-seven semifinal series.
“Alam naman natin sila coach Yeng, ‘yung mga bata niya, they won’t give up until the final buzzer,” Cruz said. “We just have to match their energy. Minsan, kailangan naming i-overmatch ‘yung energy nila para makuha namin ‘yung panalo.”
“They won’t give up eh. They’ll keep on coming. Mas bata sila. More of college style. Miss or make, takbo sila eh,” said Cruz.
Trollano has the same sentiments.
“Ang expectation ko, hindi sila susuko eh. Lalaban ‘yan hanggang huli, knowing coach Yeng. Mga hardworker ‘yan eh, especially kapag naglaro ka kay coach Yeng, bawal dyan ang hindi ka hardworker. Expect namin talaga na pupukpok sila hanggang dulo,” said Trollano.
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