Rain or Shine signs Guiao for 3 more years

Rain or Shine management gave its vote of confidence on Yeng Guiao after signing up the fiery head coach to three more years that would lock him in through 2028 with the franchise.

Guiao, who just turned 64 last week, inked the three-year extension deal in the presence of team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que, along with long-time team governor Atty. Mamerto Mondragon and team official Edison Oribiana on Wednesday.

The multi-titled PBA coach actually signed a three-year deal last September, just days after ending his six-year coaching tenure at NLEX.

The fresh deal last year marked his return to the franchise, which won two PBA championships under Guiao in the 2012 Governors' Cup and 2016 Commissioner's Cup.

“May two years pa siya (Guiao), and then we gave him an additional three years so five years (total),” Mondragon confirmed to the Manila Times.

The Rain or Shine team executive explained that Guiao's three-year extension deal is part of management's move to rebuild and strengthen the Elasto Painters.

“Bini-build up namin yung team namin and we have to strengthen it through picking up good players and with a coach like him, it's a long-term project,” stressed the Rain or Shine team governor.

Mondragon added they intend to build the team further through draft picks and player trades and then mold the incoming young players within Guiao's system. The direction was basically, in consonance with Guiao's intended future plan, which he said in a recent interview after Rain or Shine failed to make the ongoing Governors' Cup playoffs.

He also mentioned that veteran Gabe Norwood, who has been with the franchise since day 1, being Rain or Shine's top overall pick in the 2008 PBA Draft, just signed a fresh, one-year deal as well.

“Gusto niya malaman kung kaya pa niya,” said Mondragon, on the 38-year-old Norwood. “Binibigyan namin siya ng long-term because we like his attitude, and pioneer namin siya. We don't want to let him go basta basta.”