RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao admitted being sad they had to let go of Gian Mamuyac after both sides failed to come to terms on a new contract
The Elasto Painters traded one of their cornerstones in Mamuyac, as the team’s offer for a contract extension was declined.
With Mamuyac opting not to stay after the expiration of his current deal at the end of the season, RoS decided to give up its erstwhile captain alongside a Season 53 second round pick to Phoenix Super LPG for a Season 53 first round pick.
READ: Mamuyac seeks new round of contract talks after trade to Phoenix
In the end, though, Guiao wished Mamuyac all the best in his future, confident the latter will continue to take an upward trajectory in his basketball career.
“Nalulungkot ako personally na dito bumagsak ‘yung sitwasyon, ‘yung usapan,” Guiao told SPIN.ph on Friday at the sidelines of the celebration of the National CPR Day by the Philippine Heart Association where he was the guest speaker.
“Pero ang sa tingin ko naman, magiging masaya pa rin siya at gagaling pa si Mamu. Mataas pa ang upside pa ni Mamu. Saan man siya mapunta at ano man ‘yung desisyon niya sa kanyang future, I think he will succeed. We wish him the best.”
The trade ended Mamuyac’s four-year tenure with the Elasto Painters, with whom he emerged as a key player since being drafted No. 5 in 2022.
Prior to its submission and approval, however, Guiao revealed he had a heart-to-heart conversation with Mamuyac; after which the former was confident the latter would stay put.
“Before, nag-usap kami. Serious talk. That’s why umasa pa rin ako na mag-stay siya. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari after that,” Guiao said. "Kaya lang, hindi natin alam ‘yung desisyon ng mga tao. Siyempre, hindi mo kontrolado minsan ‘yung destiny mo.
“We wish him the best. Four years siya na sa amin. Nakatulong siya sa team nang malaki. At siguro naman, natulungan din namin siya to refine and improve his game. But this is part of the basketball landscape sa isang professional league. Kailangan, kahit malungkot ka, kahit hindi mo inaasahan, at some point, you have to accept it and move forward.”
The offer that was refused
Guiao insisted that Rain or Shine’s offer to Mamuyac of a three-year contract was a fair one - not just for the plaer, but also for management.
“In fairness sa management, hindi ka naman mag-o-offer ng three years sa isang player na hindi mo gusto. We offered him something we felt na fair. We offered him something na tingin namin ay puwedeng maging masaya siya, maging masaya ‘yung management. Dapat kasi sa isang negosasyon, hindi lang isang parte ang masaya eh. Dapat masaya pareho," he said.
“But it came to a point na baka meron kaming hindi alam na meron siyang ibang considerations. So at the end of the day, siya naman ang nag-decide. I’m surprised. I’m sad about the whole thing. But we just have to move forward.”
The Elasto Painters will not have to wait too long to meet Mamuyac anew, only this time, as an opponent when they take on the Fuel Masters on Tuesday.
“May game muna kami ng Sabado. And then Tuesday, nandoon na siya sa kabila. It will be weird. The feeling is parang surreal. Parang, ‘Bakit nasa kabilang team si Mamu?’” Guiao said.
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