all of them unexpected, took place in the PBA in the last couple of days.
The two teams that will be fighting it out for the Governors’ Cup championship — Barangay Ginebra and Meralco — were the ones unexpected to win their respective Final Four series against higher-ranked, and without a doubt, stronger foes.
And the most surprising development of all was Yeng Guiao accepting the head coaching job at NLEX and leaving the team he has molded into a solid title threat, Rain or Shine.
Guiao accepted a three-year contract to handle the Road Warriors starting the next season where, as an Arab News source said on Thursday, he was given complete command to do whatever he wants with his new team.
“Of course, that remains to be seen,” said the source, who spoke on condition that he not be identified because he doesn’t have the authority to speak about the matter. “But management gave coach Yeng the free hand to do whatever it takes to make NLEX a title contender.”
The source did not reveal the financial terms of Guiao’s pact, but knowing the mercurial coach, monetary considerations don’t really excite him that much. It’s winning that drives the man.
Guiao has proven his winnability with practically every team he has handled in one of the most documented, colorful coaching careers in the PBA.
He has won a total of six championships, and in his six seasons with Rain or Shine, Guiao has steered the Elasto Painters to two titles, six championship series appearances and nine Final Four stints to downplay how consistent his team was and how effective his program can be.
“Management expects coach Yeng to win a title or two for NLEX in those three years,” said the source.
NLEX thus relieved Boyet Fernandez and, also said the source, was given the freedom to slide down as one of Guiao’s assistant because he still has a year left in his contract.
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We can expect to hear more of the unexpected with regards to Guiao’s transfer to NLEX.
This corner feels that some of his former players could well be on their way to the Road Warriors’ camp with more than a handful of Rain or Shine’s best players having expiring pacts at the end of this month.
And we all know that NLEX, being that it belongs to the Manny V. Pangilinan conglomerate, is a side that is not afraid to spend its money and pay the best players available.
Paul Lee, for one, has an expiring deal at the end of the month and has openly expressed his willingness to play again for Guiao if negotiations with Rain or Shine for a new deal fell through.
And should these things happen, Rain or Shine will have no one else to blame but itself after holding out in re-signings its marquee players — and Guiao himself — to new pacts early rather than waiting for the virtual last minute.
Rain or Shine management could have opted to offer Lee and Co. new deals right after the Elasto Painters won the Commissioner’s Cup title over Alaska a few months back, in that sense, the players would have had the sense of security they needed.
It was a gamble that backfired, obviously, as NLEX found an opening and pounced on the availability of Guiao and completely disregarded the final year left in Fernandez’ contract.
Rain or Shine said that it had a similar three-year extension waiting for Yeng’s signature, that the new deal has been on the table for quite some time now.
But Guiao surely saw a better offer and took it. There’s no denying that.
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Meanwhile, Ginebra and Meralco will start their best-of-seven title series for the season-ending Governors’ Cup on Friday night, with the Gin Kings surely installed as the favorites.
Ginebra brought down the consensus team-to-beat in San Miguel Beer in the rubber match of their best-of-five semifinal series earlier this week and will have all the momentum they need coming into Game 1.
But Meralco will not be a pushover.
Though San Miguel appeared to be the strongest team on paper, Meralco defeated the side that was playing the best basketball going into the Final Four.
TNT KaTropa lost just one game in the eliminations and defeated the Bolts black-and-blue in their series opener, only for Meralco to bounce back to take the next three games and provide the first upset in the Final Four.
Even with Jared Dillinger sitting out the last two victories, Meralco won Games 3 and 4 with conviction and if the Bolts could come up with a similar effort, they would surely make this series a close one.
Both teams will come into the title series determined and well-motivated, with the corporate rivalry among their respective owners sure to provide for a very interesting sidebar.
And these owners certainly don’t like losing, most especially to each other.
So that would be added motivation, and for sure, the fans will see it in how the players will play this series and that will certainly add to the excitement.
Remember when we said prior to the opening of the tournament that Meralco is the darkhorse of the event?
The Bolts have so far proven us half right and they would have overachieved already no matter how this series ends.

Source: Arab News