PBA update: Guiao likely to stay as Air21's coach

Multi-titled Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coach Yeng Guiao is likely to stay with the Air21 Express — at least until the rest of the 2010-2011 season. Air21 team manager Allan Gregorio made the recommendation to the team's higher management — to have Guiao stay with the Express the rest of the season. The fiery mentor's contract with Air21 expires end of December 2010. "I don't think it's fair to evaluate coach Yeng after only one conference, considering the ins and outs of players in our squad," Gregorio told GMANews.TV. "So my recommendation is for him to stay at least until the rest of the season, then we will evaluate him."

The Express were eliminated by the San Miguel Beermen in the recent PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals. But with just two days to go before his contract expires, Guiao expressed apprehension over his status with the Express. "Wala pang kumakausap sa akin coming from the management, so syempre ako, napapaisip rin if they're still interested or not," said Guiao. "My concern, really, is the team, because we've developed some sort of improvement and the players are beginning to adjust to the style of play that I want." Guiao said he wants enough time to build the team into a serious contender. With the team's young guys slowly but surely beginning to establish chemistry, the former national team mentor expects good things to happen in the next two conferences. "These things aside from getting a good import will certainly make Air21 a title contender," added Guiao, who was happy to see the improvement of top rookies Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao s well as Rey Guevarra and new acquisition Lou Gatumbato. Air21 is Guiao's fourth team in the PBA. He led Swift, his first team in the pro league, to two titles in 1992 and 1993 before transferring to Pepsi in 1995. He left the PBA at the end of the 1996 season and became commissioner of the Philippine Basketball League the following year. After enjoying a successful three-year stint in the premier amateur cage league, Guiao returned to the PBA as head coach of Red Bull, a team which he led to three championships before he parted ways with the squad in 2009 to join Burger King/Air21 - JVP, KY, GMANews.TV