Yeng Guiao set for a long-term contract with ROS after signing five-year deal

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Yeng Guiao will stay with the Rain or Shine Elastopainters for good.

After failing to clinch a playoff berth in the PBA Governor’s Cup, the seasoned tactician is eager to help the struggling franchise go back to its heydays after inking a fresh five-year contract as a head coach.

Despite ending the import-laced conference with an unusual 2-9 record, the Elastopainters are confident that their former chief mentor will help them rekindle the flame they once had.

In the past 10 years, Rain or Shine is one of the most consistent teams marching to the playoffs but failed to reclaim glory when Guiao left the team last October 2016.

Guiao decided to take his leadership to the NLEX Road Warriors and led the young team to several semifinal finishes both in the import-laced and All-Filipino conferences.

However, due to internal issues, Guiao parted ways with the Road Warriors last September 2022 to rejoin his former squad.

In an interview with Guiao several days ago, he put an emphasis on acquiring the best available first-round draftees in the upcoming PBA Rookie draft to start his plans.

Guiao added that his goal is not to change the way Rain or Shine plays but its core will have to go back to playing the Elastopainters’ brand of basketball.

Since becoming a playoff team under his mentorship, Rain or Shine quickly gained its identity as the most physical and bruising team in the PBA.

Rain or Shine lived under coach Guiao’s system of pure defense and gang rebounding and once helped them rake the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship title.

With the off-season now set to kick off for Guiao and the Elastopainters, expect a hungrier team that will step up to the challenge of winning another golden crown.