FORMER PBA champion Alejandro 'Andy' De Guzman reconnected with former coach Yeng Guiao as he was at Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday for the start of the Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
De Guzman, 55, sat at ringside together with former Far Eastern University teammate and fellow draftee Teofano Tiu Jr. and served as special guest of commissioner Willie Marcial.
The two former Guiao players watched their one-time coach called the shots for NLEX in a 98-89 loss to Magnolia for the head start in their best-of-three series.
Unfortunately, they failed to catch up with the champion coach as both retired players stayed on for the other quarterfinals series between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco.
Now based in Calgary, Canada, De Guzman is in town for a short stay to look over some personal matter.
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A former top gunner of FEU, he was the no. 2 overall pick in the 1990 draft by then expansion franchise Pop Cola under Guiao.
"Nung time namin si coach Yeng hindi pa nagagalit yan. Ang madalas magalit nun si coach Tembong. Si coach Tembong ang taga-galit niya noon," recalled De Guzman, referring to the late former national team player and national coach Tembong Melencio, who was an assistant of Guiao with the RFM franchise back then.
"Napaka-kalma niyan," added the Italy-based Tiu of the NLEX coach.
De Guzman played for three season and a half season with RFM and was part of the team's first ever championship during the 1992 Third Conference featuring super import Tony Harris.
Midway in the 1993 season, he was traded to Sta. Lucia for Jack Tanuan and RicRic Marata for the duo of Zaldy Realubit and former MVP Vergel Meneses.
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He will eventually lasted with the Realtors until 1996.
In seven seasons, De Guzman played in 236 games and averaged 10.5 points.
Before migrating to Canada, he worked as assistant coaches at FEU, University of the East, Arellano University, and once served as head coach of Emilio Aguinaldo College in the NCAA.
He currently runs a young ballclub in Calgary and would sometimes serve as skills coach. (RG)
