YENG Guiao hosted a reunion of the Red Bull players that he coached and guided to three PBA championships - his most with any squad in the PBA.
Guiao opened his home for his former players and their wives, although he actually had nothing to do with organizing of the event.
After word got around that Celino Cruz, one of the guards from that Red Bull squad, was coming home for a vacation from the US, Larry Fonacier and Enrico Villanueva organized the reunion and asked Guiao to host it.
READ Red Bull reunion sparks nostalgia of squad's good ol' days
“Two weeks ago, tinawagan ako ni Larry, dumating daw si Celino (Cruz) from the States. Might be a good time to gather ‘yung team namin, ‘yung Red Bull team noon. Si Larry at si Enrico (Villanueva) naman ang parang nag-organize. Kinausap lang ako kung puwedeng i-host ko,” said Guiao.
“Ayaw nilang gumastos so ako ang pina-gastos nila,” said Guiao in jest. “So hinost ko naman, natutuwa naman akong makita ulit sila.”
Aside from Fonacier and Villanuva, other players who attended the reunion were two-time MVP Willie Miller, Kerby Raymundo, Carlo Sharma, Lordy Tugade, Junthy Valenzuela, Cyrus Baguio, Jeff Chan, and former assistant coach Gee Abanilla.
A few players couldn't make it, including the likes of Mick Pennisi, Paolo Bugia, Jimwell Torion, and Topex Robinson due to previous commitments. Still, the group pushed through with the schedule since Cruz is in town for just a few weeks.
“Sayang lang may mga wala,” Guiao said. “Si Mick parang meron silang event sa motorcycle group nila na out-of-town. Si Topex nasa Dubai (with Strong Group in the Dubai International Basketball Championship). Si Jimwell nasa Cebu. But we were all in touch with them naman during the preparations.”
“Mahirap lang talagang gawan ng date na lahat available. Tinuloy na rin namin kasi si Celino, hindi naman din magtatagal dito. At saka kahit anong gawin mong date, meron talaga hindi makakarating. So tinuloy na lang namin. Pati ang mga wives nila nandoon naman,” said Guiao.
Under Guiao’s tutelage, Red Bull won the 2001 and 2002 Commissioner’s Cup titles, still the last team to make a successful defense in that particular conference. The Thunder also bagged the 2006 Fiesta Conference. Winning the Finals MVPs in those conferences where Davonn Harp, Miller, and Tugade, in that order.
Although that squad had a relatively short window, Guiao is glad that the team remained close over the years even after the core of the Red Bull team eventually moved on to different clubs.
Looking back, Guiao said he feels like a teacher proud of his former students when he saw the former players become successful in their chosen fields, whether in basketball or outside of it, after their stint with Red Bull.
“Sabi ko nga, may personal satisfication na we’ve been able to add value to the players even after the Red Bull days," he said. "Karamihan sa kanila, napunta ng ibang team pero nag-improve ang mga kontrata nila, nag-improve mga laro nila.
"To me, that’s a great contribution to their careers and parang teacher ka na nakita mo ‘yung student mo na umasenso, siyempre matutuwa ka,” said Guiao.
Proud teacher
Guiao said it's the camaraderie, more than anything else, that made those Red Bull teams special.
“It was like family," Guiao recalled. "I think that was one of our strengths noong time na ‘yun na wala talagang gap between players and families. There were no superstars kahit alam natin na sila Willie, sila Kerby nandon pero we did not treat them as superstars. Pantay-pantay lang talaga.”
“’Yung mga experiences nila, natutunan nila after ng Red Bull team namin, napakinabangan nila, nadala nila sa mga ibang teams nila."
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