Gilas Pilipinas: Yeng Guiao out as national team coach

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao has officially stepped down from the men’s national basketball team, according to reports from multiple Philippine sports websites Wednesday.

The announcement came after the nationals’ return to Manila following a winless stint in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Per ESPN5:

“In the light of all these developments, I am stepping down, as of today, as the Head Coach of the Gilas Men’s Basketball Team, in order to give the SBP a free hand in building and developing a program towards achieving our objective of competing with the best of the best,” read a statement coming from Guiao a day after the team arrived from Beijing.

Guiao, the NLEX Road Warriors head coach, replaced then mentor Chot Reyes in the aftermath of the Gilas-Australia brawl.

He also took over the national team in the 2018 Asian Games.

The fiery mentor had a 3-3 record for the remainder of the Asian Qualifiers, helping the Philippines make a 2nd consecutive World Cup stint.

In the lead up to the World Cup, Guiao called coaching in the international meet the highlight of his career, citing that he doesn’t know how long he will be a part of the national team.

Guiao also coached the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship national team.