Q&A: Yeng Guiao’s thoughts on their import, first Comms Cup game

MANILA, Philippines – The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are two weeks removed from their heartbreaking Philippine Cup Finals loss to the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers. The sting of that loss was still evident during Rain or Shine’s first game in the Commissoner’s Cup, where they lost to Barako Bull after allowing several costly three-pointers.

The game was also the first time Rain or Shine import Alex McLean got his first taste of the Philippine flavor of basketball

Head coach Yeng Guiao shared his thoughts about what type of role he wants McLean to play for Rain or Shine; the one man from Barako Bull who took Rain or Shine out in their first game; and the lessons he and his team learned from their Philippine Cup Finals loss – lessons he hopes will help Rain or Shine grow and bounce back in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Rappler: It’s your first game back from a tough Finals loss. What were your thoughts on the first game back?

Guiao: “We played a good first half. Our third quarter was bad. We couldn’t find an antidote for the import. Looking at the stats we won almost all departments except stopping the import. To me that’s still a good sign if you’re looking for something positive. We just got beat by one person. Of course there was help from Willie Miller and Mick Pennisi. They were making their threes in the third quarter. Maybe if we could have made two or 3 stops on their import, it would have made a difference.

“I think our import also needs to make the adjustments. It’s his first game in the PBA. He will have to learn a lot of things on his first game. Also we were not able to scrimmage with any team and make him feel the game itself. 

“We need him to improve. I think he has the potential, he has the attitude to play our game. Hindi ko naman inaasahan na parang Dollard din siya magte-take over siya offensively. (I don’t expect him to be like Dollard and take over for us offensively.) That’s not our style. We can win games with him just by playing within the context of our system and within our style. We do not need any import scoring 40+ points for us to win. 

“As in most of the teams that make the Finals, pag dating mo talaga sa (when you come to the) next conference you’re not at the peak physically and mentally. You still need to recover for a few days or a few games. “

Rappler: Can you describe the game of your import?

Guiao: He has an outside shot. He can post up. He has a strong body. He’s not as athletic as the other imports. But he’s really very basic, very fundamental. And that’s really all we need. Threat siya inside, threat siya outside. (He’s a threat inside, he’s a threat outside.) I like the bigs who can shoot the outside shot and he can. He’s smart. He’s an intelligent player. But I guess it will just be some sort of learning process. After one or two games he should be better off than he played today.

Rappler: So do you see McLean more as a complimentary import than a leader?

Guiao: “He will have to be a leader kasi import siya. (He will have to be a leader because he’s an import.) But he will have to play within our system. We don’t want to just get him the ball and just clear out for him. 

“We need to keep the ball moving, we need to run our sets, we need to create for each other. Kasi pag binigyan mo siya ng bola tapos nag-take over na siya ng (If you give him the ball and he takes over the) offense, unang una (firstly), I don’t think he’s that type of import anyway. He might not have that mentality and ability. 

“Pangalawa (Secondly) it’s not our style that our import is like that. Pangatlo (Thirdly), in the long run, it’s important that your locals are scoring. With the physicality in this league, I don’t think that you can last every game being beaten up, bumped, pushed and still remain fresh.”

Rappler: What important lessons did you learn from last conference and the Finals that you want to apply to the Commissioner’s Cup?

Guiao: “Just the experience itself. It’s playing against pressure. It’s delivering against that pressure. It’s also staying tough mentally. It’s also just being able to draw out the maximum talent of our players. Importante sa amin yun (That is important to us) because we will never be as talented as whatever team we play. We’re not the most talented team. But when you get to that point, you must be able to maximize that talent, whatever you have. That’s our objective. 

“Ang naging problema kasi (The problem) is we had rookies who played well in the elimination round, even in the semifinals. But when it came to the Finals, yung mga rookies namin nagfe-fade out na (our rookies faded out) because they’re young, because they need more experience. That’s what I meant when I said we need to draw out that talent.” – Rappler.com