Guiao welcomes FIBA-oriented rules in PBA

MANILA, Philippines – The PBA’s decision to veer toward FIBA rules will help Filipino basketball players adjust to international play, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao said. 

Among the new rules that will be enacted in the upcoming PBA season, which will start next month, is the coach’s challenge.

Aside from this, players will not be allowed to call timeouts anymore. 

During the PBA Media Day Tuesday, Guiao revealed to reporters that when coaches were consulted by the league commissioner Willie Marcial and the technical committee about the rule changes, they approved it unanimously. 

“I am happy because we are getting closer to the FIBA rules, and as I’ve said before, that’s going to help our players who will become Gilas players,” Guiao said in Filipino.

“Also, [Filipino teams] are already playing in international games, not just our national team. We were able to play in the Jones Cup. Meralco played in Dubai, and the EASL is also another international tournament that we regularly participate in,” he added. 

Guiao reiterated that the enactment of the new rules is a good development for the league. 

“That is gonna help us with our Southeast Asian Games and our Asian Games, so, we conformed to the new rules. We have no complaints about getting closer to the FIBA rules.” 

The fiery Rain or Shine coach, who handled the Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team, also lauded the rule change disallowing players to call timeouts.

He said it will require tactical adjustments from the coaches, and it will also “reward good defense.”

“It is going to reward effort and defensive intensity, so you cannot bail out with timeouts. So, I think that is a good development,” Guiao said.