Former Most Valuable Player Vergel Meneses, steady guard Al Solis and do-it-all Junthy Valenzuela are some of the players multi-titled coach Yeng Guiao would like to bring if ever he’ll go to cage wars.
“Si Vergel, isa na doon,” said Guiao during his exclusive interview with Journey @PinoyStep.Com, a special 15-minute video interview segment while on board his vehicle to share his basketball journey.
“At the wing position, isa siya sa mga talented dyan. Then, si Junthy (Valenzuela). Then siguro, si Al Solis. Yung leadership ni Al, very level-headed siya, matalino.”
Guiao used to handle these players on different generations and won championships with them.
Solis was acquired by Diet Sarsi, then the brand name being carried by RFM Corporation during the 1991 PBA season from corporate rival, Purefoods.
The hero of Purefoods’ first championship in the 1990 Third Conference was also instrumental in Swift’s firs title in the 1992 Third Conference when the Mighty Meaties swept 7-Up in the best-of-seven championship series.
That same season saw Solis emerging as the floor leader of the Mighty Meaties and he even wound up in the Mythical Five.
Meneses, on the other hand, was picked up by Swift in a trade with Sta. Lucia in a multiple-player transaction that also involved Zaldy Realubit, Andy de Guzman, Jack Tanuan and Ric-Ric Marata midway the 1993 season.
The Aerial Voyager immediately flourished under the system of Guiao and along with Nelson Asaytono, Solis, Rudy Distrito and a shot-blocking demon named Ronnie Thompkins, helped the Mighty Meaties in winning the Commissioner’s Cup that season, beating Purefoods Oodles in six games of the title series.
Valenzuela, a 6-foot-3 wing man who plays solid on both ends of the floor, was among the six players from Red Bull’s team in the defunct Philippine Basketball League who were directly elevated when the Energizers joined the PBA as an expansion squad in Year 2000.
He immediately became a key factor for the team along with Davonn Harp, Kerby Raymundo, Lordy Tugade and Jimwell Torion.
Known for his accurate shooting from mid-range and no nonsense defense against wingmen, Valenzuela won three championships while playing under Guiao.
Talent-wise, Guiao picked Meneses standing out, but the seven-time champion coach believes there’s more to skill set when it comes to becoming a key factor to a team and become successful.
“Yan nga yung sinasabi ko na you will bring players who’ll go to war with you, players who will not dominate the game but they can dominate the game in other ways,” added Guiao.
From the current players, Guiao selected Paul Lee as one among those battle-tested players.
Lee was part of Guiao’s two championship teams with Rain or Shine just like Meneses, he believes the 6-foot-1 guard from University of the East as among the most talented guards he ever coached along with two-time Most Valuable Player Willie Miller.
“Paul has that ability of keeping the team together,” added Guiao.
Lee, Finals MVP during Rain or Shine’s last championship, was traded by the Elasto Painters at the end of the 2016 PBA season for two-time MVP James Yap and since then, the stocky but shifty guard has been instrumental in Magnolia’s numerous finals runs, including that 2018 Governors’ Cup campaign where he emerged as the Best Player of the Conference
