More than three decades of coaching in the PBA, Yeng Guiao was blessed to handle players whom he considered special — be it on the talent level or exceptional hard work.
Count Jhonard Clarito in those elite list of extraordinary hardworking players.
“Players like Jhonard Clarito will always have a place in a PBA roster, not just because he’s talented. Alam niya sa sarili niya na hindi siya ganung ka-talented katulad ng iba,” Guiao told Pinoystep.com.
Clarito had a defining moment in his PBA career on Wednesday night while helping Rain or Shine to a 92-89 win over NLEX to keep its hopee alive for a possible Final Four berth. He finished with a career-high 21 rebounds while also producing 20 points.
Guiao took notice of his player’s exceptional performance, giving emphasis at how Clarito’s hard work has been rewarded. Already a Most Improved Player awardee, he kept on getting better in difference facets of his game.
‘It’s something you cannot teach,” added Guiao. “You’ve seen players making a lot of effort on defense and rebounding, but Jhonard has been extraordinary when it comes from having the nose for the ball. He had that uncanny ability to get the ball in second and third effort and that’s very rare for a player.”
“Probably, Jhonard was able to develop it on the kind of environment he’s been into. Hindi naman yan galing sa malaking eskwela, hindi rin siya galing sa malaking liga noong college. He has something to prove that a player like him will have a place in the PBA,” said Guiao, referring to his player who saw action for the De Ocampo Memorial College Cobras in the NCRAA.
Throughout his coaching career, Guiao had rarely seen a player as hardworking as Clarito and the only one that could come close was probably Juancho “Ch0y” Estrada, a
“When it comes to effort in denying an offensive player or defending the best scorers of the opposing team, I think Choy Estrada was also special. He’ll do whatever it takes. Basag-basag na nga yung ngipin niyan kaka-depensa kay Rudy Distrito sa ensayo, pero wala siyang pakialam. He’ll continue to play that special role,” added Guiao.
