Guiao after Game 1 thriller: 'It's a test of will'

MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao did not only save his team from losing Game One but also a chunk of their confidence in the series.  

Guiao drew up a last second play that was perfectly executed by the Painters leading to Paul Lee’s game winner to hack out a hard-earned 83-80 win Friday night in the opener of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Big Dome.

It was a stroke of a genius that felt more like luck.

“Coach Tim (Cone) did a good job on keeping them fresh, giving them balance minutes. They’re handling it (fatigue) very well.  I thought we can outrun them but they kept us at bay. They countered our plan very well,” said Guiao, who was expecting a tired San Mig Super Coffee in the series opener.

Guiao was surprised to see the Mixers battling them toe-to-toe barely 24 hours after beating Brgy. Ginebra in an emotional Game Seven victory. 

“They did not look like they were tired. We got tired tiring them out,” Guiao said.  

He warned his team right after the game that the Mixers could only get better as they recover from that grueling semifinal series that went the distance.

“If we are expecting them to be tired or we can tire them out, then we just have to win this series on its merits,” said Guiao who has set his sights on his first ever All Filipino title, the only championship he hasn’t won.

With fatigue no longer a factor, Guiao is predicting the series to be close.  

“I think both teams are going to stabilize. If this was a nice game then we’ll see a better game in Game 2. Maybe the execution, the timing will get better,” Guiao said.  

But as the Mixers get better, he is also expecting the same from his team whom he thought gave up so many free throws.

“They’re going to make their free throws kaya sinasabi ko sa team kanina if you give them 30 free throws again in the next, we will lose. That’s something we need to look out for,” Guiao noted.

If this was a boxing match, Rain or Shine is the slugger while San Mig Super Coffee is the methodical counter-puncher. Guiao believes that whoever can impose his style will have the upper hand to win the title.

“We don’t want to play halfcourt set with them. They don’t want to keep running with us. So it’s a test of will,” Guiao said.