Guiao to stay as Red Bull coach

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao said yesterday he’s not giving up his job in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), no matter the outcome of the May 10 elections.

Guiao, 45, is running for Vice-Governor in Pampanga.

"I’ve talked it over with Boss George (Chua)," said Guiao, a provincial board member. "I will stay as coach even if I win. I plan to divide my time between basketball and the office in the province. It will entail a sacrifice. I could supervise our practice from 9 to 12 every morning then drive to Pampanga where I can stay to work up to 7 or 8 at night."

Guiao said it’s difficult to live on a Vice-Governor’s salary. "I have my responsibilities to my family and my domestic financial obligations," he continued. "I will need a source of income other than the salary of a public official to make both ends meet."

Guiao and wife Jenny Tablante are blessed with three children —Niner, 19, Jomig, 15, and Tintin, 8.

An industrial engineering graduate from the University of the Philippines (UP), Guiao started coaching as Virgil Villavicencio’s assistant for RFM in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) in 1986. He took over from Villavicencio in 1987. Three years later, Guiao was named Swift coach in the PBA. He moved to Pepsi in 1994, became Philippine Basketball League commissioner in 1997 then returned to the PBA as Red Bull coach in 2000. Guiao has captured four PBA titles so far — two for RFM in 1992 and 1993 and two for Red Bull in 2001 and 2002.

At La Salle Greenhills, Guiao was a varsity high school player. He was in his fourth year when Joseph Uichico was a freshman on the Greenies prep squad under Tatang Mendoza. Guiao also played for the UP seniors varsity under Joe Lipa and his teammates included Ricky Dandan and Bert Ortiz. He saw action briefly for Swift in the PABL with now RFM president Joey Concepcion.

Basketball and politics are in Guiao’s blood. His late father Bren was Pampanga Governor from 1986 to 1995. His uncle Pastor is running for reelection as Mayor of Magalang.

Guiao ran for Vice-Governor in 1998, a year after his father passed away. "My father’s followers wanted me to run and I couldn’t let them down," he pointed out. "I was an independent candidate. I gave in to my father’s supporters because he had just died and I wanted to continue what he started for the province. I filed my candidacy at the last minute. Although I had no party, I lost only by a slim margin. I learned a lot from the experience."

Guiao said a priority in his advocacy as provincial board member was to develop Clark as a sports mecca. "My dream is to turn Clark into a sports center that we can be proud of," he went on. "The Rizal Memorial is dilapidated and outmoded. Our Southeast Asian neighbors boast of sports centers which inspire their athletes. Clark could be the future Rizal Memorial for the next generation of Filipino athletes. For the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, we hope our province can host some events."

If he wins as Vice-Governor, Guiao said he plans to go deeper than sports and youth development in his action program. "With Mark Lapid as our Governor, I hope to improve the fiscal administration of the province and set up a check-and-balance system to monitor income-generating projects," he continued. "I want to provide additional incentives for businessmen, small and big. I intend to implement a comprehensive educational and health plan."

Guiao said he is campaigning to deliver a solid Pampango mandate for President Arroyo. "The battlecry in Pampanga is to give the President a full term to finish her programs in economic development," he noted. "Her three years were not enough. We want the President to continue her efforts so that our welfare in the province and in the entire country is assured."

Guiao said despite five import changes, he’s surprised Red Bull is close to the top of the standings. "Give credit to the team," he said. "The work of our locals has been outstanding. Vonn (Harp), Rico (Villanueva), Mick (Pennisi), Jimwell (Torion) and the others are giving us a big lift."

Guiao confirmed he’s sticking it out with import Cory Hightower–for the time being. "He’s a volume player in that he needs to take about 20 shots a game to get going" observed Guiao. "The problem is if he shoots less than 45 or 50 percent. We need him to rebound more and improve his field goal percentage. He plays three but we want him to also help in the middle against guys like (Art) Long."

Guiao disclosed that former Red Bull import Julius Nwosu is now back in the US, where he lives, after playing out his contract in Lebanon. He said Nwosu is an option but he’d rather use a three-spot player who can complement the Barako local big men.

"Right now, San Miguel Beer is the team to beat although we don’t know about the quality of the foreign teams from Argentina and Lebanon coming," said Guiao. "According to Julius, the Lebanese national team is tough. I think the team to watch is Ginebra. Once coach Siot (Tanquingcen) gets his bearings and their import starts to jell, they’ll be a serious contender, probably more serious than Talk ‘N’ Text."

Guiao described the Red Bull team as physical, hard-driving and motivated.

"We don’t go out of our way to be physical," he said. "We do what we have to do to win. For instance, we know we have to be physical to defend Asi (Taulava) but we can’t be physical against (Jimmy) Alapag because he plays better and harder if you play him physical. If we play off Alapag, he’s a softer player because the distance takes away some of his quickness. We don’t play physical against FedEx or Shell for the same reason. We do different things to try to win. But we always enter a game physically and mentally tough. We’ve got to be mentally prepared to play over the hype against teams like Talk ‘N’ Text and San Miguel Beer because we have a rivalry with them."

Guiao said he’s hoping to be of service to his provincemates because that could be the next phase of his life.

"I’m idealistic and fatalistic," he mused. "I want to be of service to our people, to improve our system of government. It is a legacy my father left behind. I am looking for a purpose and I wonder if this is my destiny. If it’s not meant for me, I’m happy with what I’m doing as a coach. I’m offering myself to the people and if I’m elected, I’ll be ready to serve. That could be my real purpose in life."