Tinanggap na ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) ang pagbibitiw sa puwesto ni Yeng Guiao bilang head coach ng Philippine men’s basketball team.
Ang pasyang ito ni Guiao ay kasunod sa nakakadismayang kampanya ng Gilas Pilipinas sa 2019 FIBA World Cup kung saan wala silang naitala kahit isang panalo sa torneyo.
Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni SBP President Al Panlilio na nagpapasalamat sila kay Guiao sa lahat ng naging kontribusyon nito sa men’s basketball team ng bansa.
“Coach Yeng Guiao had the unenviable task of picking up the pieces for Gilas Pilipinas Men. Even if the odds were stacked against him from the start, he took on the challenge head on and gave it his best shot,” wika ni Panlilio.
“His selection to take over was unanimous and it spoke volumes about the respect that he has gained throughout his career from all members of the Philippine basketball community,” ani Panlilio.
Bago ito, sa hiwalay na statement, inihayag ni Guiao na malaking bagay umano ang pagkakatalaga sa kanya bilang head mentor ng Gilas na nagsimula noong 2018 Asian Games sa Indonesia.
Paliwanag pa ni Guiao, nagbitiw ito sa puwesto upang malayang makapamili ang SBP sa napipisil nilang maging bagong head coach ng koponan.
Muli ring inihayag ni Guiao na inaako niya ang responsibilidad sa pagkabigo ng Pilipinas sa World Cup, kung saan bumulusok sila sa huling puwesto.
“I am sorry we could not deliver a better performance,” saad ni Guiao.
“Our players gave their best against talented, bigger, stronger, and better prepared athletes from the best teams in the world.”
“I truly appreciate their efforts and sacrifices – and that of their families. Our times together will never be erased from my memory.”
“[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.”
Ilang oras bago ang kanyang pagbibitiw, sinabi ni Guiao na sa loob ng isa o dalawang araw ay magkakaroon ng “major development” para sa Gilas.
Gayunman, naging tikom ang bibig ni Guiao sa kung ano ang naging laman ng kanyang pakikipagpulong sa mga opisyal ng SBP.
