MANILA, 12 December 2003 — Coach Yeng Guiao and his most-trusted crew are staying with Red Bull, after all.
Saying that the ballclub is more than just an organization, but as a family, Red Bull team owner George Chua reiterated his full confidence in the team’s management and coaching staff.
Chua threw out the resignation letters tendered last week by Guiao and his assistants and team manager Tony Chua.
They tendered their resignation at the end of the team’s title-less campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) this season.
Guiao and his coaching staff had offered to quit and give Chua a free hand if he thinks the team needs to be overhauled for next season’s campaign.
“We have expressed our confidence in our coaching staff - to coach Yeng Guiao and his assistants, as well as to our team manager Tony Chua and team consultant Andy Jao, reiterating our appreciation for their noble act of “delicadeza,’’ and advised them that we are not accepting their resignation,’’ said in a two-page statement released to the media.
Although saddened by the Thunder’s defeat to Talk ‘N’ Text in their quarterfinals battle in the PBA Reinforced Conference recently, Chua said that Red Bull is more concerned with disappointing “our growing legion of fans, supporters and the basketball public, many of whom were in tears.’’
Red Bull is the most dominant team in the eliminations. They dominated the eliminations following a franchise-best 10 straight victories, but got axed in the quarterfinals of the season-ending Reinforced Conference.
Interestingly, Red Bull Barako owned the distinction of becoming the fastest team to string up two championships in just three seasons by capturing the titles in the Commissioner’s Cup in 2001 and 2002.
George Chua also assured Red Bull fans that “we are here to stay. We are committed to building a stronger, better, more competitive team. One conference does not make a league.
Chua said Guiao and his staff as well as team manager and team consultant Andy Jao continued to enjoy his trust and confidence and even praised them for their professionalism and delicadeza (sense of propriety).
“There are more championships waiting to be won. The task of improving and strengthening our franchise for the longer, harder battles ahead remains formidable, but we will prevail.
“We shall continue our quest for excellence, not only in the pursuit of titles and trophies, but in the larger contest for the hearts of every Filipino sports enthusiast. We will demonstrate that the heart of a true champion is not created overnight, but is slowly, painstakingly and lovingly nurtured through loyalty, commitment and hard work.”
Chua said: “It is time to set the past aside and move. We look at our achievements and we are pleased with our accomplishments.”
“There is no blame and most certainly no shame in our loss, no matter how painful that might be. We are convinced that every member of our team did their best to win and we can ask for nothing more. We have learned the sweetness of victory, and we certainly know how to keep our dignity in defeat.’’
Likewise, Chua said he was “heartened” by the selfless act of professionalism and ‘delic adeza’ demonstrated by our team management and coaching staff in tendering their voluntary resignations immediately after the team’s misfortune.
“They had set for themselves the difficult task of winning the championship, and they held themselves fully accountable for falling to achieve it. This act of theirs has made us even prouder of the quality of men we are privileged to have in our ranks, highly principled professionals who would not hesitate to lay their own jobs on the line as proof of their unstinting commitment to the highest level of performance of their duties.”
Guiao said he will first talk with George Chua but indicated he and his staff, including Tony Chua, would likely stay on.
“We resigned because we wanted to give the team owner a free hand in reorganizing the team, if he wants to do that. With this (Chua’s decision), we are bound to come out stronger,” said Guiao, adding he appreciated the team owner’s decision.
Guiao and Chua, along with team consultant Jao, had piloted Red Bull to two Commissioner’s Cup crowns since the Thunder barged into the pro league two years ago.
But rumors of game-fixing and point-shaving swirled after the unexpected defeat of Red Bull to Talk ‘N’ Text, which also failed to reach the semifinals of the All Filipino Conference.
Guiao said: “We feel that losing once in a while is good for the team in terms of your ego. It keeps you alert and sharp.”
Yet despite this “slump,” Guiao sees things in a different light.
Red Bull owns the deepest bench this season with a lineup bannered by Fil-foreign cagers Davon Harp and Mick Pennisi, 2002 Most Valuable Player Willie Miller, Lordy Tugade and Junthy Valenzuela.
Backing up Guiao’s first stringers are talented players off the bench led by rookies Rysal Castro and Enrico Villanueva along with veterans Vince Hizon, Nelson Asaytono and former MBA star Homer Se.
“Actually, I told my players then, look, we’re the tournament favorites here and we should play like we are supposed to play. And the boys responded. It’s just now that we gave the game away, of our own doing. That’s because we had opportunities to win the game but we failed to capitalize on them,” said Guiao, who owns two PBA titles since returning to PBA coaching in the 2000 season.
Guiao had said the Thunder was playing the basketball.
He said that his Thunder are more competitive individually and as a team.
