Like most of them, both Baguio and Araña enjoyed their time with Guiao.
They are laughing about it now, but back then, Ryan Araña and Cyrus Baguio, like many who came before and after them, folded in the face of a coach Yeng Guiao tongue-lashing.
In a PBA Motoclub vlog on YouTube, the former Guiao apostles shared their hilarious stories about the firebrand mentor, with Araña recalling his time with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters when he missed a pair of free throws.
“Ganda ng laro ko, nawala kumpiyansa ko kasi pag free throw ko sablay dalawa. Winarningan niya na ako, nung narinig ko na tumayo balahibo ko e. Tapos pag-free throw ko, dalawa kapos,” he said.
Everyone knows what came after that.
“Alam ko na, patay ako dito. Pagdating sa dugout nakatingin sa’kin mga tatlong minuto siguro,” he added of Guiao, whose team will represent the Philippines in the upcoming William Jones Cup in Taiwan.
After the menacing stare from the multi-titled tactician, Guiao finally talked—and it’s not for the faint of heart.
“Sabi niya, ‘Ryan, ‘yung free throw mo mas magaling pa ako sa’yo. Ang tigas ng kamay mo, parang manok. Coach Caloy [Garcia] maglaga ka ng tubig, ibabad mo ‘yung kamay nito’,” he said.
Baguio had a similar story during his playing days with Guiao at Red Bull Barako.
“First half pa lang, turnover ako apat na. Ang problema, mga teammates ko nung pumasok tuloy-tuloy ‘yung turnover din. Galit na galit (si coach Yeng),” he said.
“Pagdating sa dugout, sabi niya, “Cyrus, pag nag-turnover ka pa, papauwiin na kita.’”
When third quarter came, Skryus botched another possession. While he was not sent home, he spent the rest of the match at the end of the bench.
“Ang problema, Ginebra ata kalaban namin nun. ‘Yung fans ng Ginebra sigaw nang sigaw ng ‘Baguio, Baguio’,” he said. Guiao then approached him and asked, “Mga kamag-anak mo ba ‘yun?”
But these are good memories, something they talk about over a cup of coffee or a glass of beer. If the two were to change anything from their past, they are most likely to retain those experiences.
After all, Baguio blossomed under Guiao’s tutelage.
“Maganda sa kanya, walang star player. Bibigyan niya talagang chance mga rookies,” said Barako’s 14th overall pick in the 2003 Draft.
“Siya lang kilala ko sa PBA na walang ‘cooking.’ Kapag nagsalita ‘yun, ‘yun na ‘yun. Paprangkahin ka.”
For Araña, his time with Guiao was easily the highlight of a storied PBA career.
“Pero sa buong career ko sa PBA si coach Yeng, ‘yung team ng Rain or Shine na hinandle ni coach Yeng, ‘yun pinaka-highlight ng career ko,” he said.
Watch the whole vlog below:
(GM)