Coach Yeng Guiao Bodyslams Rajko Toroman - in Words Again

Team Pilipinas Coach Yeng Guiao was quoted by the Manila Bulletin on its October 4, 2008 issue as saying to the effect money paid to SBP-backed Coach Toroman is better off spent on finding a foreign reinforcement.

"Kung may pera naman pala sila (SBP), di sana sa pagkuha na lang ng 7-footer na pwede i-naturalize for the national team ginamit," Guiao said to the newspaper.

Yeng Guiao who is also busy fighting Ed Panlilio in Pampanga is now waging a two-front battle (something even the United States Armed Forces isn't sure it could carry out) this time with foreign coaches esp. Toroman.

"Hiring foreign coach should be the least option. Under Philippine labor law, foreign worker can be done only if there is no available in our country and provided he or she has new technology or new system that is not yet known in our country."

Coach Yeng said he is not totally against foreign coaches provided there is really a transfer of technology and the role of Toroman clarified.

Is it really better off spending money on a foreign reinforcement than a foreign coach?

In the short term, it is but in the long term a foreign coach is more beneficial. Toroman's job is not just a coach, he is also a teacher and skills coach. The knowledge gain by the players will be enormous and cannot be quantified. Can one measure the benefit endowed to us by a mentor? Hiring a foreign mercenary is good but after the tournament what? Did we learn anything from him?

What new technology does Toroman bring?

Indepth knowledge of FIBA rules, strategies, tactics and nuances, it is something no PBA coach has. Yes it can be augmented by study and seminars but Toroman has practical knowledge already. Our coaches are experts but in NBA or American type of basketball which is effective if we are as athletic and tall as the Americans but our basketball players are midgets compared to competition - and poor shooters. That's the reason why Toroman is here to teach Filipino coaches so one of them could replace him in the future.

Gee, I wonder why it is okay to hire imports but not a foreign coach. In fact I think imports only encourage the locals to be lazy and dump all the work to the foreigner thus deteriorating the quality of professional leagues. College teams nowadays are filled with foreigners I wonder why nobody's giving a hoot.


In the news today, Coach Yeng Guiao is impressed with Solomon Mercado, Jared Dillinger, and Jason Castro plans to include them to his pool.

“Gabe Norwood is a given, being a member of the RP team to the last FIBA Asia championship. Among the new faces, Jared Dillinger, Solomon Mercado and Jason Castro are those who deserve a second look. They should be given a chance to be considered although they’re in for a tough competition considering the talents that we have in their spots." Guiao told Philstar.com

In a great move, the PBA also plans to invite Japeth Aguilar, the first Philippine-born basketball player in the US NCAA Division 1, in the pool.

It's about TIME!

YENG GUIAO NOT IMPRESSED WITH TOROMAN

“If he could present a technology where six-footers could beat seven-footers, then there’s no problem with me,” said Guiao. “I’ll carry his bags. But as far as we know right now, there’s nothing new.”

"We have nothing personal, but we also have to protect the interest of the local coaches"

"It is not just a technical, but an emotional issue for local coaches like us"

These were the statements Coach Yeng Guiao unleashed in the broadsheets today referring to the hiring of SBP-backed Coach Rajko Toroman. Yeng wants appointment of foreigner Toroman justified and the guy's role clarified (wow it rhymes). The former believes there's no need to hire a foreign coach for the national team as we have coaches capable of doing the job. I respect his opinion but I do hope he reconsiders.

Thankfully for us, SBP Executive Director Noli Eala is in said to be in talks with Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP) head Chito Narvasa. It should be noted the BCAP is opposed to hiring of foreign basketball coaches in the country. Hopefully, something good with come out of it specifically Eala could convince BCAP to accept Toroman's appointment. There's no need for this. This is so unnecessary.

From the Inquirer:
Guiao stressed that they would only yield to a foreign coach if Toroman presents a solid program, which Filipino coaches are incapable of duplicating.

The only way Toroman could do that is if he's given a chance to helm the team.

I mean no disrespect for Filipino coaches but Toroman has one great advantage over local coaches - extensive experience in international brand of basketball. Let's admit it. Most coaches in the country are adept in American-style of play. It won't work for us since our athletes aren't as athletic and tall as the Americans - as the Redeem Team showed during the recent Olympics. We have seen local coaches blew away our chances of winning games in international tournaments because of their naivete. They made tactical errors. Nothing can replace experience. Besides his experience, Toroman is also credited with developing Iranian center Hamed Hadadi. He is also a great skills coach. If this isn't "technological advantage" I don't know what it is. His expertise was sought out by the Memphis Grizzlies and luckily for us, he turned down the offer. He could develop our young centers such as Slaughter and Fajardo. They need a great teacher.

As our previous experience showed, being a Filipino is not a guarantee the coach will stick around win or lose nor is a part-time coach a good thing either. Toroman will be loyal to his mother club - the national team itself. He will spend most of his time training his players than getting distracted by petty national tournaments the world doesn't even care.

Why do you like this Toroman guy?

He led a country to the Olympics something no Filipino coach in the last 30 - 40 years has done. Isn't it achievement enough? I'm sure our coaches could do it but our basketball deviated far away from the basics and there was no serious basketball program before that we lost our edge to other Asian nations. Besides, our best players don't compete in FIBA tournaments regularly before.As far as I'm concerned, it's enough to earn my respect considering there were eight other teams in contention for that Olympic spot but Iran beat them all. It's not like Toroman will coach our team forever. One of his Filipino pupils will takeover in the future thus making the technology transfer complete.

I would like the best person to lead our country. I want the best for our country. Settling for less isn't good enough for me. I'm frustrated at every International tournaments, Filipino coach's inexperience costs us games. The coaches admit it themselves. Ask Tim Cone. Ask Jong Uichico. I think Tim Cone gets pissed every time he thinks about the decisions he made at the 1998 Asian Games. If we allow Toroman to do his job, then inexperience is one stumbling block removed. The guy is seasoned international campaigner.

Noli Eala will use all the PR skills he has to dissuade the BCAP on its stand. I do hope he succeeds. I'm sure if properly explained the opposition will fizzle out. It is for the good of our country anyway. There are no losers here.

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GUIAO, PUMAREN & AUSTRIA AGAINST FOREIGN COACHES; SBP WILL TRY TO CONVINCE PBA TO CONSIDER

This news item showed the local coaches' opposition to the plan by SBP to hire a foreign coach. This was the day after SBP bared their proposal to recruit one.

LOCAL coaches collectively expressed their views opposing the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ plan to hire a foreign coach that will handle the Philippine men’s basketball squad seeing action in the 2011 FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship, a qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympics.

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao, Nokia Pilipinas Youth and La Salle Green Archers mentor Franz Pumaren and former Welcoat coach and now Adamson Falcons mentor Leo Austria disagreed with the SBP’s plan on tapping the services of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

Toroman steered the Iranian squad to the FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship in Tokushima, Japan last year.

But Pumaren, Guiao and Austria unanimously agreed that the Philippine team that will compete in major Asian basketball tournaments and possibly in the Olympics should be handled by no less than our very own.

“There are many competent coaches here and I believe success comes within the program,” said Pumaren, also the head of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Players Union.

Guiao, the top candidate for the head coaching post for the national team that will see action in the 2009 FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship, is not convinced about the need to get a foreign coach.

“Why hire a foreign coach? Will he cry alongside the players everytime we suffer a setback? Or how compassionate he is compared to a Filipino coach while handling the Philippine team? I mean, there are a lot of talented coaches here who will stick to the team win or lose. ” said Guiao.

Source

As the events previously unfolded showed, having a Filipino coach doesn't mean he will stick around win or lose. Besides, it will not hurt as much.

Despite the opposition to the proposal, the SBP will try to convince the PBA to consider hiring a foreign coach to the national team.

Meanwhile, the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will persuade the Philippine Basketball Association to consider employing the services of a foreign coach when the professional league spearheads the formation of a team to the FIBA-Asia Championship next year.

If the PBA insists on a local to coach the national team, then it should be Yeng Guiao and he should resign from Red Bull. I think Coach Yeng is capable. Back in 1990, he led the Philippine Light All-Stars to a ten-point victory against China (though PBA rules were used and an import was employed). He steered his Red Bull team to PBA semifinals stint without big name stars believing in the system rather than star power. I admire the guy and he deserves to be the national team coach but only as a full-time one. No more part-time coach - one bad experience is enough! Our national team needs a full time coach!

However, the PBA should be open-minded on this matter. I really prefer a foreign one esp. with vast international basketball experience like Toroman (Toro=Bull, they have something in common with Coach Yeng) but I think PBA will not bend to SBP's request. I just hope, this wouldn't result in another impasse and stall our preparation again.

The issue of SBP hiring a foreign coach would have been averted had Commissioner Barrios chose one a long time ago. This month, exactly one year before FIBA-Asia, would have been a great start for Team Pilipinas to start training. Another three-month preparation and I can assure you - our players will be crying again in another first round exit. You may say what about other Asian teams - they too train for three months. Yes, you have a point but the players know each other since they were young as they get to represent their countries in age-group competitions. Besides, they are very familiar with FIBA rules - our PBA players are not.

Quinito Henson should be the national team coach, he seems to know a lot!

I don't recall Mr. Henson criticize Coach Pumaren's basketball strategies and tactics during the FIBA-Asia Under 18 Championship. The former deplored the action that he thought was wrong!

I respect Coach Pumaren by the way don't get me wrong. In fact I was happy that he instilled mental toughness on the RP boys in the game against Taiwan (and Iran). I think he is the perfect coach for the national youth team. Though we lost a close game against Lebanon it was due to a lousy call. We would've won the game.

SBP could be faulted too for not synchronizing college competitions with the international schedule.

As I've said yesterday, local college leagues are independent of SBP. There's no need for SBP to impose. I think it is more commendable if those leagues change schedules in their own volition not because they were ordered to.

Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.

The local college league officials already know their schedules' conflict with FIBA's. It would be better for them to take the initiative much like the then PBA Commissioner Eala's cutting of PBA Conferences from three to two and changing the association's time table to allow the PBA to represent the country. If there's a will, there's a way! It will only happen if the leagues concerned share the Filipino people's dream of regaining basketball supremacy in Asia. Actions speak louder than words, so to speak.