Yeng Guiao: Parity, not four-point line, remains key to solving PBA issues

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. PBA Images/file

MANILA — The PBA is looking to add more spice to its competition by implementing the four-point line in the upcoming Season 49 Governors Cup.

The main goal for the decision to put up this ruling, the PBA said, is to bring back more fans to the arenas as well as ‘become the No.1 basketball entertainment league in Asia' ahead of its 50th anniversary a season from now. 

However, it has since received mixed reactions from players, coaches, and fans. 

READ: PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial on new 4-point line: ‘Subukan muna natin'

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao is among those who had a lukewarm reception to this development, saying that it could've been tested and thought about more before they decided to implement it. 

"I'll clarify myself. Hindi naman ako against sa four-point shot. Nagulat lang ako dahil hindi siya umabot sa usual protocol, but wala na tayong magagawa. We just need to accept it," he said during the league's Media Day on Monday in Pasay. 

READ: Four-point shot, own arena, and the PBA's other plans ahead of Season 49

"Pwede naman siyang i-experiment outside the PBA eh. It could turn out to be good or it could be bad, bragging brights pa natin yun pag maganda."

"Kung hindi sana sa proseso, okay sana sa akin, kasi risk taker din ako eh. So kung hindi lang doon sa proseso, okay sana sa akin. It could've been better if not for the protocols and the right processes," he continued.

But even with this clarification, the multiple-time champion mentor emphasized that the four-point line is not the answer to the PBA's multiple problems.

"Actually, yun nga yung sa akin. Ever since naman, ang aking advocacy is parity," Guiao said. 

"Kung gusto natin ng exciting games, kung gusto nating maka enganyo pa tayo ng maraming manonood, good old-fashioned parity sana. Yung makakita ng magandang bakbakan talaga, seryoso lahat ng teams may chance manalo, lahat ng teams gusto champion — that's the good old fashioned formula, so sa akin, that should be the direction."

"Ito [four-point line], pampa saya, pampa iba ng lasa, pero babalik at babalik din dun sa issue na ‘yon eh."

"Meron bang chance manalo lahat ng teams ng championship? At di ba ‘yon ang pinaka maganda? Na hindi natin alam sino ang magcha-champion every conference? Lahat ng games natin, close games? Na ang intensyon ng lahat natin ay mapalakas yung team natin? At lahat tayo sumusunod sa rules?"

Guiao also stressed that the PBA must strictly enforce its rules with regard to the players' contracts as well as the trade transactions between teams.

"At the end of the day, meron tayong mga regulations. We're supposed to follow those rules exactly to accomplish yung hinahanap nating parity, but somehow, those are being skewed," he pointed out.

"Kaya every year, yung Top 3 picks ng Draft, laging TerraFirma, Blackwater, NorthPort. Next year, TerraFirma, Blackwater, NorthPort. Susunod, biglang naging Converge, pero yung sinasabi ko, for the last eight to ten years, yung three teams na yun nauuna sa Draft eh. Hindi lang naman ako nakakapansin noon," he said.

"Hindi ba yun ang dapat nating bigyan ng solusyon? And that's just looking at the lower bracket. Yung upper bracket naman, ganun din. So to me, that is the main problem that needs to be solved," he added. 

But for now, what he and the E-Painters can do is deal with the four-pointer which will be implemented starting August 18.

"We haven't really focused on setting up anything on the four-point shot. Ang bilin ko lang sa kanila, pag natural na andyan, you take it. Pero para pilitin niyo, wag muna. We're not intentionally looking for it."