Yeng Guiao, former protege Paul Lee face off in Philippine Cup opener

Yeng Guiao and Paul Lee.

SEOUL: It was supposed to be Yeng Guiao versus his former team.
When that didn’t work out, the PBA thought of a better plot for opening day.
Guiao, who will call the shots for NLEX when the 42nd Season opens on Nov. 20, will instead be coaching the Road Warriors against one of his foremost protégés, Paul Lee, who will now try to lead Star back to its once lofty perch.
That will be the only game scheduled when the PBA takes the lid off of its new season with the Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, with Guiao to try and start a new chapter in his storied coaching career at the expense of the point guard he helped nurture into superstardom.
The original schedule was for Guiao to clash with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, whom he had a peaceful parting of ways with last month as he took on a new challenge to pilot the Road Warriors.
But James Yap, now the new face of the Painters with Lee being traded to Star for the former two-time MVP just a day after Guiao left, is scheduled to undergo a medical procedure on his knee, prompting Rain or Shine management to beg off for that day.
Yap, who is reportedly having a great time with his new team, will be out for not more than two weeks as he needs some gel implants on his knee to prepare him for the tough grind for the coming season.
“We are looking forward to the challenge,” Star board representative Rene Pardo told Arab News as he confirmed the opening day clash with Guiao and the Road Warriors.
“It should be a very interesting game.”
Star went on a rebuilding spree and was all too glad to acquire Lee when informed that Rain or Shine wanted to ship him out.
The Hotshots also got Jio Jalalon from the Gilas Cadet side of the Draft and with too many guards in their roster, traded away Alex Mallari and RR Garcia to acquire Aldrech Ramos from Mahindra.
Mahindra also gave up a second round pick for next year’s Draft and then dealt Garcia to San Miguel Beer for utility player Ryan Arana and the Beermen’s first round selection in 2018.
NLEX, meanwhile, has been relatively quiet ever since Guiao came aboard, with the Road Warriors’ only activity being the acquisition of Carlo Lastimosa from Blackwater in exchange for former NCAA MVP James Forrester.
“The team is in high spirits ever since coach Yeng arrived,” said Ramon Fernandez, the league’s vice chair who is NLEX’ representative to the PBA board. “He is running a new system now and the players are responding.
“We are confident of having a great season ahead with coach Yeng.” Fermandez said.
As usual, the traditional opening ceremonies will become the highlight of the day, with all the teams to parade their players and respective muses.
The Philippine Cup will still be the longest for the season, as it will run until late March, before two import-spiced conferences are held with teams limited to reinforcements of 6-foot-10 and 6-foot-5 for the Commissioner’s and Governors’ Cups, respectively.