YENG Guiao feels he’s the luckiest coach around.
Despite Rain or Shine getting eliminated in the PBA Governors Cup, team management decided to sign the veteran coach to a contract extension that will last until 2028.
Guiao still has two years left in the original deal he had with the Elasto Painters since returning to the franchise last September.
READ: Guiao looks to rebuild RoS lineup through draft, trades
“Ito lang yung team na na-eliminate ka pero nire-reward ka nila ng extension,” said Guiao on Wednesday. “Kung suswertihin ka nga naman.”
“Pero kidding aside, of course nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila. And from the beginning naman ng paglipat ko rito, alam nila that this is going to be a process. And we’ve been through in this process before in 2010 nung unang pasok ko rito. May mga similarities din.”
The contract extension also comes in the wake of rumors that Converge, a team whose ownership is deeply rooted in Guiao's home province of Pampanga, is interested in hiring him as coach.
The two big bosses of Rain or Shine in Raymund Yu and Terry Que were on hand when Guiao signed the extension deal, along with team governor Atty. Mamerto Mondragon, alternate governor Edison Oribiana and Yu's son Redmond.
“Yes, that’s how huge our trust with coach Yeng is,” said Yu after the contract signing.
Guiao added, "We've worked for so long together, naka-six years din ako sa kanila. So they know me, and I know them. And I think that partnership is worth extending as manifested by this contract extention."
The extension, according to Guiao, allows him to pursue what he referred to as a reset phase for the Welbest franchise.
"Sabi ko nga this is a time to reset, a time to recommit, and also a time to trust the process and be patient," said Guiao. S'iguro sila naman walang apprehensions or doubts on where this team is going to a few years from now.
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