RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao believes his fellow coaches would like him prefer a much-earlier start to the 51st season of the PBA rather than the March 7 opening planned by league officials.
The Elasto Painters are one of the teams that faces a lengthy offseason of no less than four months after their quarterfinal exit in the 50th Season Governors’ Cup where they were eliminated by Converge.
Guiao also wishes that the break in between seasons would be shortened.
“Gusto rin namin ‘yun kaya lang hindi natin alam kay Commissioner kung paano niya magagawan ng paraan ‘yun or kung magagawan ng paraan ‘yun. Nasa PBA na ‘yun kung anong gusto nilang gawin," said the veteran coach.
READ LA rues four months of inactivity as PBA plans March 7 opening
“Pero I’m sure ang preference ng lahat, maaga mag-umpisa kung kakayanin,” Guiao said after the Elasto Painters were eliminated on Friday.
Magnolia coach LA Tenorio was the first to ask the PBA to reconsider the March 7 opening, supposedly set to accommodate Gilas Pilipinas’ participation in the February/March window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Tenorio said the March opening is unnecessary since not all teams have players from Gilas Pilipinas.
Meantime, teams that didn’t make the playoffs, namely Terrafirma, Blackwater, Titan Ultra, and Meralco, will be inactive or nearly five months.
Guiao said he wouldn’t mind the March start but if there is a way to begin earlier, the better, since teams continue to pay salaries for the players and coaches during offseason.
“Ang hirap naman nung four to five months kang nakapahinga na practice ka lang ng practice eh. Tapos siyempre, ‘yung mga team owners natin, nagpapasuweldo ng nakabakasyon ka lang.
"Parang ang sarap ng buhay, di ba? Ang importante dito ‘yung competition. I think kung may paraang magsimula ng maaga, why not?”
For now, with the March opening, Guiao said Rain or Shine will take a break before resuming practice in order for the players to remain fit.
“Actually, masyadong mahaba eh. But we won’t start practicing. We will give the guys a couple of weeks break. Papractice kami. We will take it like a training camp. And then, we will just break for Christmas and New Year, then balik na kami for regular training.”
“Yes, mahaba siya, pero kapag hinabaan mo naman ‘yung bakasyon, mas mahirap din makabalik. Kahit mahaba ‘yung bakasyon, we will keep ourselves in good shape,” said Guiao.
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