FOSHAN, China — For Yeng Guiao, leading Gilas Pilipinas to a win or two in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Basketball World Cup here is more than just a historic finish; it is also a personal mission he needs to accomplish. Well, if we look closely at his coaching career, Guiao seems to have it all. Hold My Beer Julius Manicad finished a miserable eighth in the 16-team field. Iran, bannered by Asian stars Hamed Haddadi and Sahmad Nikhah Bahrami and Mehdi Kamrani, emerged as champion while China and Jordan grabbed the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Even worse, second-tier teams Lebanon, Chinese Taipei and Qatar finished ahead of the Filipinos dribblers, who reportedly had some serious chemistry issues as the coaching staff apparently failed to define their respective roles heading into the tournament. Nine years later, Guiao was tapped to steer the Nationals anew. But this time, expectations were low as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee were no longer expected to field a team in the men’s basketball tournament of the 18th Asian Games until Sure, he wasn’t considered as a decorated former player like Norman Black or Leo Austria, but he gets the job done and earned a reputation as a miracle-worker for turning scrappy teams into championship contenders. Remember Red Bull? For those who are too young to remember, it was Guiao who turned the likes of Lordy Tugade, Jimwell Torion, Davonn Harp, Mick Pennisi and Junthy Valenzuela from rag-tag team into a heavyweight through sheer hard work and defensive mentality. Yes, Enrico Villanueva, Cyrus Baguio and Kerby Raymundo were all star players in the amateurs, but it was under Guiao where they kicked off their respective careers and found their niche in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Guiao was also the mastermind behind Rain or Shine. He squeezed out the talent from Ryan Arana, Paul Lee, JR Quinahan, Beau Belga and Jeff Chan, paving the way for them to clinch rich contacts in the latter part of their basketball careers. But there’s still one important feather that has been missing on Guiao’s cap — international success. The first time Guiao handled the national team, it was a disaster. He was tapped to helm a collection of PBA stars in the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China in 2009, a tourney that stakes tickets to the FIBA World Championship in the Turkish capital of Istanbul. Questions were raised over the composition of his team. Pennisi and Asi Taulava were tapped as slotmen together with Gabe Norwood, Jared Dillinger, Arwind Santos, Ryan Reyes, Cyrus Baguio, Sonny Thoss, Jayjay Helterbrand, Ranidel de Ocampo and Raymundo. Interestingly, Jimmy Alapag was not included due to his height while Mark Caguioa was also left out after Guiao stressed that he is “not fit to play international basketball at this stage.” Alapag went on to become a cult hero in Gilas Pilipinas program while Caguioa quietly worked hard to prove Guiao wrong by prolonging his basketball career. The result was quite forgettable. With the Nationals failing to develop their chemistry, they Rain or Shine — Guiao’s former club — expressed its willingness to step in and carry the fight. Guiao’s brilliance was in full display. He called on his former wards like Chris Tiu, Taulava, Norwood and Belga and young stars like Maverick Ahanmisi, Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to form the core of the squad that will slug it out in a crucial tourney that the Filipinos were looking to use to ease the painful memory brought by their ugly brawl with Australia during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Sure, he wasn’t considered as a decorated former player like Norman Black or Leo Austria, but he gets the job done and earned a reputation as a miracle-worker for turning scrappy teams into championship contenders. As bonus, NBA stalwart Jordan Clarkson landed on Guiao’s lap as the NBA, the Asian Games organizers and the Cleveland Cavaliers gave him the green light to suit up in the prestigious quadrennial tournament. The Filipinos failed to make it to the medal round, but their fifth-place performance is regarded as their best finish since Olsen Racela muffed his charities in the semifinals of the Busan Asian Games in 2002. Still, Guiao wants more. He said he will do his best to coach at a high level to lead Gilas Pilipinas to a shock win over Italy and another one over Angola to advance to the next round of the World Cup, which would be the Filipinos’ best finish since winning the bronze medal in the 1954 edition in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Guiao claimed that he is ready. But whether he can achieve that golden feat remains to be seen. The FIBA Basketball World Cup is more than just a tournament; it is Guiao’s major test whether he truly deserves a spot in the Mount Rushmore of Philippine basketball.