AS they say, players win games, coaches lose them.
Always man enough, Yeng Guiao was the first to take the blame for the Philippine men's basketball team's 91-82 loss to hot-shooting South Korea in their quarterfinals match at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Guiao was quick to own up to the Filipinos' mistakes after letting go of an eight-point second half lead and then faltering in the final five minutes of the game at the GBK Basketball Hall on Monday when the Sokors buried them with one three-point shot after another to get the job done.
"I take responsibility because we just did not prepare that long. Again, it's the function of our time together," said Guaio.
"I don't think the team has to be blamed for it," added Guiao, who is also the NLEX Road Warriors coach. "It's a good effort, the guys gave their all, and we could not ask anything more."
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The loss to the Sokors, handled by the legendary Hur Jae, stretched the Filipinos' losing streak against their Asian rivals in the meet to 56 long years. The Philippines last beat South Korea in the Asiad during the 1962 edition - also held in Jakarta - when it won the basketball gold for the last time.
The Filipinos are now relegated to the consolation round as it plays Japan on Tuesday for a shot of achieving the best finish it can get at fifth place.
The Japanese fell to Iran, 93-67, in their quarterfinals battle.
The Philippines finished seventh place in the last staging of the Asiad in Incheon, South Korea four years ago. (RG)
