Raymond Yu, co-owner of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, looked back at the humble beginnings as well as the legacy his team created — both in the Philippine Basketball Association and the now defunct PBL where they established a league dynasty.
Yu reflected on his team’s basketball journey at a time when his team unveiled its retro uniform on Wednesday night against Converge, a game which the Elasto Painters won convincingly, 110-90.
“Nung nagsisimula kami sa PBL, kulelat kami, tapos nung nagsimula kami sa PBA, kulelat rin kami,” Yu told Pinoystep.com in an exclusive interview. “But through perseverance and the willingness to win a championship, naka-anim kami sa PBL, sa PBA, dalawa.”
Welcoat started to make its presence felt before the start of the millennium and in fact, established a dynasty in the PBL when it won four of five championships, bridging Year 1999-2000.
Among the notable players of Welcoat, then carrying its house paint brand and bringing in the moniker Painters, were Don Allado, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Yancy de Ocampo, Anton Viloria, Jojo Manalo, and Celino Cruz among others.
The team won two more titles with different stars forming up the squad — from Jojo Tangkay, James Yap, Marc Pingris all the way to Jay Washington.
Welcoat was supposed to enter the PBA earlier than expected and looked to join Asia’s pioneering professional basketball league right after Red Bull made its way to the big time circuit in 2000.
But the franchise had to wait until after Shell decided to sell its PBA ball club at the end of the 2005 season to the Asian Coatings, the mother company of Welcoat.
Like in its early participation in the PBL, Welcoat also struggled in the PBA with coach Leo Austria at the helm and was preceded by his deputy, Caloy Garcia.
By the end of the 2010 season, Garcia gave way to Yeng Guiao, whose contract with Burger King/Air 21 ended and quickly, the veteran bench tactician transformed the team and established a winning habit to Rain or Shine, leading the squad to two titles, numerous finals runs and deep playoff appearances.
Rain or Shine, according to Yu, isn’t done yet, although he admitted that winning another title has become a lot more challenging now with teams owned by giant conglomerates dominating the league.
“We still want to win more championships,” added Yu. “Gusto naming maalala kami as a basketball team na lumalaban against all odds. Kami sa PBA yung masasabi mo na clear definition of what an independent team is.”
Guiao agreed with Yu’s observation of taking pride going up against well-funded companies which own multiple teams.
“Kaya ako nasi-settle sa franchise na ito, it protected its good name also,” said Guiao. “Inalagaan nila yung pangalan nila. They play by the rules and regulations. They had been ethical. It’s a good way to be recognized ng tao na dito galing yun — dati Welcoat sila, ngayon, Rain or Shine na.”
Photos: PBL Facebook/PBA Images
