Gilas Pilipinas: SBP thanks Guiao for ‘picking up pieces’ during takeover

After Gilas Pilipinas Men head coach Yeng Guiao formally announced his exit from the national team, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio issued the following statement:

“Coach Yeng Guiao had the unenviable task of picking up the pieces for Gilas Pilipinas Men. While the odds were stacked against him, he boldly took on the challenge, displaying the Filipino’s fighting spirit.

His selection to take over was unanimous and it spoke volumes about the respect that he has gained throughout his career from the members of the country’s basketball community.

It is with a heavy heart that we accept Coach Yeng’s resignation as the Gilas Pilipinas Men head coach. The SBP thanks him for his invaluable contributions and wishes him well in all his future endeavors.”

Guiao finished with a 5-10 record overall in FIBA and Asian Games competitions for Gilas in his over a year of tenure as head coach.

The NLEX Road Warriors said in a statement that he takes pride in “having taken over (the team) at a point of crisis.”

Suspensions to key players due to the Australia brawl marred Guiao’s takeover, but Gilas was able to perform well and return to the World Cup, even placing 5th in the 2018 Asian Games.