WHILE the PBA season was a disappointing one for Rain or Shine, coach Yeng Guiao is looking at the team's early exit in the Governors' Cup as the right time to reorganize the composition of the franchise.
A day after the Elasto Painters ended their Season 47 campaign, Guiao said the long break would give him and management time to evaluate everything about the team after failing to reach the playoffs of the third conference.
From now until October when the new season begins, there will be a lot of work to be done for Rain or Shine, according to the champion coach.
He considers the early ouster of the Elasto Painters as a 'blessing in disguise.'
"It's time for us to do a reset. I look at this opportunity as a reset to our team, to assess, and to evaluate," said Guiao.
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"Siguro ito yung pagkakataon na kung ano yung puwedeng i-improve sa team at lahat ng puwede naming adjustment gagawin namin sa period na ito."
Giving Guiao a good feel for the next season is Rain or Shine at least owning two first round picks in the coming rookie draft in September.
Everything is still up in the air as to the composition of the Season 48 rookie class, but Guiao believes those first round picks will go a long way to improve the Rain or Shine roster.
"Meron kaming two first round picks na tingin ko maaga. I think we're in a position to take nos. 3 and 4 in the coming draft this September," Guiao said in the Saturday sports program Power & Play hosted by former PBA commissioner Noli Eala.
"Kung malalim yung draft natin, that will give us a good potential kasi bata yung team ko ngayon and mas magiging bata pa kung makukuha namin itong two early draft picks pa na ito."
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Of course, more than the current lineup, import woes doomed the Elasto Painters' campaign in the season-ending tournament.
"We will not make it as an excuse, pero naging problema namin unang-una yung import namin. We did not do a good job of scouting an import who can fit our system, yung talagang puwede namin na makasama in the long term," said Guiao.
Rain or Shine began the conference with returning import Michael Qualls, but the union failed to take off as the team lost its first five games.
Greg Smith II came in to replace Qualls, but hardly saw action as he missed out the game against Terrafirma for failing to secure a Letter of Clearance from his former ballclub in the Dominican Republic. Later on, he suffered a pulled hamstring against NLEX that forced Rain or Shine to look for another replacement.
Jordan Tolbert came in at the last minute, but unfortunately, exceeded the 6-foot-6 height limit and was not allowed to play.
As it was, the Elasto Painters just played out their last three games without an import.
"That was one of the factors. Tingin ko lang kung itong mga last few games namin meron kaming import, baka nagkaroon pa ng chance," said Guiao of the losses against Phoenix, NorthPort, and San Miguel.
Rain or Shine ended its campaign with a 2-9 record. (RG)
