Ni Ernest Hernandez
IBA na ang kalidad ng NLEX Road Warriors at hindi maikakaila na nagbubunga na ang sakripisyo at butil ng pagtitiyaga ni multi-titled coach Yeng Guiao.
Tatlong sunod na panalo ang naitala ng Road Warriors sa kasalukuyang 2017 PBA Governor’s Cup – kabilang ang makasaysayang double overtime win, 122-114, laban sa dating koponan na Rain or Shine nitong Miyerkules.
Hindi ikinaila ni Guiao na ang naturang panalo ay higit na pinasarap dahil bahagi ang dati niyang koponan.
“It is also a weird, it is a awkward feeling because sometimes I can feel that I am the coach of that team,” pahayag ni Guiao.
Sa pagbubukas ng 2016-2017 PBA Season, nawala ang ilang major player ng Rain or Shine. Nag-over de bakod din si Guiao kalaunan matapos ang trade kay top gunner Paul Lee sa Star Hotshots. Napunta naman si JR Quinahan sa Global Port Batang Pier.
“I haven’t really gotten over that 100% and I still feel that they are my team. They are my boys but as I have said, magkakalaban na kami ngayon and I have to get used to that,” aniya.
“Nakaka-miss talaga si Coach Yeng. He was a good mentor,” sambit ni Caloy Garcia, assistant ni Guiao noon sa Paint Masters.
“Up to now, I try to watch his games as much as possible and learn from it. Pero yun nga, we have to set aside kasi trabaho talaga namin ito. We just have to think of the players right now.”