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| After a disappointing performance in the FIBA World Cup, Yeng Guiao stepped down as Gilas Men's head coach. Rick Dela Cruz (file photo) |
LIPA--In a stunning development on Wednesday, Yeng Guiao is leaving Gilas Pilipinas Men as head coach.
The SBP confirmed the news via a statement quoting the concurrent NLEX mentor himself.
The resignation took place after the national team finished dead last in the FIBA World Cup, going winless after five games with the worst losing margin.
"In the light of all these developments, 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," said Guiao.
Guiao, who was once the national team coach in 2007, replaced Chot Reyes as Gilas coach after the infamous brawl between the Nationals and Australia in the third window of the World Cup Qualifiers at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue on July 2, 2018.
[Related Story: Australia, Gilas engage in free-for-all in crucial WCQ match]
Under Guiao, Gilas Men finished 3-3 in the second round of the qualifiers, which, coupled by a South Korea win over Lebanon in the final day of the qualifiers, was just enough for them to make the World Cup.
However, despite a fairly impressive tuneup series where they went 4-2, Gilas Men suffered four blowout losses in the FIBA worlds, starting with back-to-back bad beats by 46 or more points against Italy and Serbia.
"I am sorry we could not deliver a better performance," Guiao continued. "I can only wish we could have performed better these past two weeks, but the odds were stacked against us. Nonetheless, I take full responsibility. I knew what conditions existed, what the limitations were, and still, I accepted the challenge. I hold myself responsible for the consequences."
Now that he is done as Gilas Men coach, Guiao can now focus on the Road Warriors' campaign in the upcoming PBA Governors' Cup.
"I am now back home in NLEX to fully focus on winning our first championship," he continued.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
Guiao, who was once the national team coach in 2007, replaced Chot Reyes as Gilas coach after the infamous brawl between the Nationals and Australia in the third window of the World Cup Qualifiers at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue on July 2, 2018.
[Related Story: Australia, Gilas engage in free-for-all in crucial WCQ match]
Under Guiao, Gilas Men finished 3-3 in the second round of the qualifiers, which, coupled by a South Korea win over Lebanon in the final day of the qualifiers, was just enough for them to make the World Cup.
However, despite a fairly impressive tuneup series where they went 4-2, Gilas Men suffered four blowout losses in the FIBA worlds, starting with back-to-back bad beats by 46 or more points against Italy and Serbia.
"I am sorry we could not deliver a better performance," Guiao continued. "I can only wish we could have performed better these past two weeks, but the odds were stacked against us. Nonetheless, I take full responsibility. I knew what conditions existed, what the limitations were, and still, I accepted the challenge. I hold myself responsible for the consequences."
Now that he is done as Gilas Men coach, Guiao can now focus on the Road Warriors' campaign in the upcoming PBA Governors' Cup.
"I am now back home in NLEX to fully focus on winning our first championship," he continued.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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