Yeng Guiao on sending 4th overall pick to TNT: ‘Lahat nagulat dun, pati nga ako’
NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao expressed his disappointment over the recent three-team trade which was centered on the Road Warriors’ 4th overall pick in the upcoming rookie draft.
Sister team TNT is now the proud owner of that pick while NLEX, through Blackwater, was compensated with Roi Sumang, Don Trollano, Morris Shaw and the Bossing’s 2022 second round draft pick.
The 61-year old former Pampanga congressman admitted that he, along with the rest of the league followers and observers, was stunned with the sudden turn of events which left his team with only one pick in the first round.
“Lahat nga nagulat dun sa trade namin. Pati nga ako nagulat, eh,” said the volatile mentor while trying to hide his frustration through humor.
Guiao disclosed that he was already looking forward to using those two precious picks in the upper half of the drafting order in order to keep his team up to par with powerhouse teams like San Miguel and Brgy. Ginebra.
Sources claim that Guiao is dead set on taking Calvin Oftana with the 3rd overall followed by Mikey Williams with the 4th. Insiders bared that Guiao actually considers Williams as the best player in the draft class.
“We have discussed thoroughly the recently concluded trade between Blackwater, TNT and NLEX within the organization, and I have strongly indicated my position on the matter. Unfortunately, I do not make the final decisions. I remain a good soldier and team player. We will move forward from this trade with a positive outlook and focus on our preparation to put together a competitive team for this coming season,” said Guiao in a statement released through the team’s Facebook page.
It remains to be seen if the Road Warriors will stick to their original plan of drafting Oftana at No. 3 now that it’s their only pick in the first round. Choosing Willams, however, will be tricky since TNT is said to targeting the talented Fil-Am guard as replacement for Ray Parks.