MANILA, Philippines – The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, from its players to its coaching staff, added something new to their attire on Tuesday night’s, February 3 game versus the NLEX Road Warriors.
The coaching staff, headed by Yeng Guiao, wore black armbands, while the players had the number 44 stitched on a black patch on the left chest of their jersey uniforms.
Guiao said this was the team’s own little way of paying respect to the slain Special Action Force (SAF) members, whose lives were lost in a deadly encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao last January 25.
“We just wanted pay a small tribute to the 44 lives that perished in an unfortunate incident and gusto lang namin bigyan ng pagpaphalaga at makiramay doon sa mga pamilya nila at bigyan ng pagpapahalaga ang kanilang sakripisyo,” he said following his team’s 96-91 win over NLEX.
(We just wanted to pay a small tribute to the 44 lives that perished in an unfortunate incident and we just want to give importance and pay our respects to their families, and appreciate their sacrifice.)
A representative of the first district of Pampanga, Guiao said he came up with the idea and brought it up with Rain or Shine management, who approved the idea “without thinking.”
He also cleared it up with the PBA through league media Bureau Chief Willie Marcial.
The team still has not decided whether or not they will keep the armband and number 44 for the rest of the conference.
Coach Yeng Guiao said the black armband and no.44 on player's jerseys are @RoSEPainters' little tribute to #Fallen44 pic.twitter.com/kinzqtQUE8
— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) February 3, 2015“We haven’t talked about it but at least for a start this is our own way of paying tribute,” Guiao said. “We haven’t talked about how long we’ll be wearing it.”
The outspoken coach also clarified there is no subliminal message to their tribute and they are not protesting anything about how the clash was handled. Rather, it is entirely an act of respect.
“We’re not protesting anything we’re just sympathizing with the families and we’re just giving due importance for their sacrifices in our own small way.” – Rappler.com
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