FIBA World Cup or bust for Yeng Guiao

MANILA, Philippines — In the short time that they have been together, the new national pool has developed a bonding and a sort of a pact that they would stick and work together to accomplish the country’s dream of another FIBA World Cup stint.

They are a new band of brothers in the national pool, each one ready to watch each other’s back and contribute for a common objective – bring Team Phl to the 2019 world joust in China.

Team Phl is well on course to achieving that goal after a crucial 92-81 win over Qatar at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Monday night.

Up next for the Nationals are back-to-back home games against Kazakhstan on Nov. 30 then against Iran on Dec. 3.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has yet to officially announce who will coach the team in the last two windows of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, but all indications point to coach Yeng Guiao keeping the post he’s taken over from coach Chot Reyes.

“I’ll wait for the formal announcement from the SBP on whether they would want me to continue coaching the national team. I’m just saying, kung ibibigay sa akin dahil maganda ang samahan namin, tatanggapin ko naman. It’s a milestone. It’s about delivering the objective to be back in the World Cup,” said Guiao.

“Magsama-sama tayo. Subukan natin kung hanggang saan tayo makakarating. Kung hindi tayo makarating, maghiwa-hiwalay tayo,” Guiao added.

He said he could no longer turn his back on the players who have gone to war with him from the Asian Games to the FIBA games in Tehran and at the Big Dome Monday.

“I would miss these young guys. After a while there’s a bond that has been developed as you could see may napuputukan ng kilay, dumudugo ang ilong, nawawalan ng ngipin, nagtitiis sa laban kahit na buntis ang asawa. But they’re still here. So how I can leave them, how can I say no,” said Guiao.

He commended his players for leaving everything on the floor just to serve flag and country.

“We didn’t talk about money here. We didn’t talk about incentive. We’re just called upon, and we responded. We played and we coached. Walang ipinangako sa amin. We just wanted to serve,” Guiao said.

The outspoken coach stressed, though, that he would resign right away if he won’t be able to deliver.

“Pag hindi tayo nakarating sa World Cup, at hindi ko nadala ang team sa World Cup, bahala na kayo sa buhay n’yo. I will go away, hindi ko pala kaya,” he said.

“Pero kapag nadala natin sa World Cup, eh di mag-usap uli tayo. ” he added.