Guiao Relives Opportunity as Kai Sotto Joins ROS Practice
First, it was Kevin Quiambao. Next was Kai Sotto.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters had suddenly become a haven for young Gilas Pilipinas players who are trying to stay in shape and looking to experience a fitting workout with a PBA team.
Quiambao’s involvement was not surprising since he played for La Salle where coach Caloy Garcia, chief deputy of Rain or Shine mentor Yeng Guiao, also serves as an assistant coach to Topex Robinson.
Just recently, it was Sotto’s turn to reconnect with Guiao, who had some sort stake in the Sotto family.
Kai’s dad, Ervin, a former PBA player, used to be an assistant coach of Guiao, when they were still together with NLEX. Guiao, a multi-titled PBA mentor, served as general manager and head coach of the Road Warriors from 2017 to 2023.
Garcia, who also plays the role as head of basketball operations of the Elasto Painters, explained it wasn’t a big deal seeing both Quiambao and Sotto on separate occasions practicing with the squad.
“It’s all about keeping themselves in shape,” said Garcia. “We’re open to players who want to practice with us, that’s why we accommodated Kai.”
For Guiao, seeing Quiambao and Sotto working out with the Elasto Painters at different times was mutually beneficial.
“I think when Kevin practiced with us, he was using the opportunity of competing against players who were more experienced than him, something which he brought to La Salle,” said Guiao. “On the other hand, Kai practiced with us because he doesn’t want to lose his form and at least somehow keep himself in shape.”
True enough, it was mutually beneficial for both Gilas Pilipinas standouts.
While continuously working out with the team, Quiambao was able to toughen up and helped La Salle in winning a championship several years back, on top of winning back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards.
As a way of giving back, Quiambao was the one who recommended Jalen Johnson to become the import of the Elasto Painters and the reinforcement was able to carry the squad back to the Final Four in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Guiao also looked back at the time when a young Kai was still practicing with teams he previously coached – the Road Warriors and the Rain or Shine-backed Philippine national team that competed in lieu of a depleted Gilas Pilipinas team in the 2018 Asian Games.
“Kamuntik na naming maging player si Kai noon,” said Guiao. “Naglalaro pa lang siya noon sa Ateneo tsaka sa national youth team, pero plano na naming ma-include siya noon sa men’s team kasi we believe makakatulong siya.”
“Pero hindi siya pinayagan noon ng Ateneo, so we have to make do of what we have.”
Sotto along with several young stars back then, Ricci Rivero and Kobe Paras, attended the practices of that 2018 team which filled in the spot of the Gilas Pilipinas team that was decimated by suspensions on players and coaching staff after figuring in a controversial on-court scuffle against Australia that made headlines in the basketball world.
