Guiao banks on familiarity

Familiarity will play a major role when Gilas Pilipinas marches to the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta starting 18 August.

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao said he would be banking on his former wards in Rain or Shine to step up despite having only eight days to prepare for the prestigious quadrennial meet.

Included in the squad are Elasto Painters Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, James Yap, Maverick Ahanmisi, Chris Tiu and Raymund Almazan, who all played for Guiao before transferring to the Road Warriors in 2016.

Yap, who was traded to Rain or Shine in 2016, also had a chance to work with Guiao when he was tapped to spearhead the Powerade Pilipinas squad in the Fiba Asia Men’s Championship in 2009.

“We have eight days of practice. That’s really very short to whip up a competitive team but as I’ve said, our familiarity with the Rain or Shine guys (will be a factor),” said Guiao who towed Rain or Shine to two championships in their five-year partnership.

Aside from the six Elasto Painters, Guiao also got the most from his wish list in Christian Standhardinger of San Miguel, JP Erram of Blackwater, Stanley Pringle of Globalport and Paul Lee of Magnolia, who were made available to reinforce the squad.

Don Trollano of Talk ‘N Text, Asi Taulava with cadets Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero were also added to complete a 14-man pool which would be trimmed to final 12 before the squad leaves for Jakarta on 14 August.

“We tried getting them and we’re very lucky to have them with the teams’ blessings,” said the fiery mentor Guiao who finds no problem in gelling the newcomers into his philosophy.

While Guiao believes the team could have been an even stronger squad with the presence of some top PBA stars, he is already satisfied enough to have a competitive team especially with the presence of big men Standhardinger, Erram, Belga, Almazan and Taulava.

“We know that these are not yet our primary talents because of the unavailability of other players especially the teams that are in the Finals and those players from our regular national team,” he said.

“But be that as it may, I think this is a very competitive team. We have enough quality big men to compete. I think we’re ready.”