VETERAN coach Yeng Guiao is not returning as coach of NLEX, according to multiple reports.

Guiao, who led the Road Warriors to the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup with a 6-5 win-loss record, reportedly failed to come to terms with the NLEX management.

A seven-time PBA champion and two-time “Coach of the Year” awardee, Guiao now finds himself without a team with only a few weeks left before the start of the PBA Commissioners’ Cup.

The 62-year-old mentor from Pampanga captured his first PBA championship when he led Swift Hotdogs to a 4-0 sweep of Seven-Up in the 1992 Third Conference.

Guiao, who also served as PBL commissioner, also won the PBA titles in the 1993 Commissioners’ Cup (Swift Hotdogs), 2001 Commissioners’ Cup (Red Bull), 2002 Commissioners Cup (Red Bull), 2006 Fiesta Conference (Red Bull) and 2012 Governors” Cup (Rain or Shine).

His last championship came in the 2016 PBA Commissioners’ Cup as he piloted Rain or Shine to a 4-2 series win over Alaska Milk.

After a six-year stay with Rain or Shine from 2011-16, Guiao moved to NLEX to take the place of Boyet Fernandez

With NLEX, Guiao failed to win a title and managed only two semifinals appearances.

As the No. 6 seed in the PBA, the Road Warriors lost to Magnolia Hotshots, 1-2, in the quarterfinals.

Overall, Guiao has compiled a record of 71-96 in six years with NLEX.

But with seven titles tucked under his belt, only six other coaches Tim Cone, Baby Dalupan, Norman Black , Jong Uichico. Chot Reyes and Leo Austria have won more titles than Guiao.

The news of Guiao’s decision to step down as coach of NLEX was first reported by SPIN.Ph and was confirmed to Tiebreaker Times by multiple sources closely monitoring the situation.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya