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University of Perpetual Help relied on former FEU Tamaraw Patrick Sleat in pulling off a 67-54 victory over the San Sebastian Stags yesterday that jump started its NCAA Season 101 campaign at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The 6-0 forward debuted with 10 points including a triple, four rebounds, five assists and a steal without committing a single turnover before fouling out late in the final quarter.

It was Sleat’s eight points in the opening period that sparked the breakaway run and set the tone for the one-sided win.

‘Patrick was big for us,’ said UPHSD coach Olsen Racela, referring to his former player when he was still with the Tams in the UAAP. ‘He is one player who can create, unselfish and looks for his open teammates and has experience.’

‘We expect a lot of things from him and our players look up to him,’ he added.

In the other game, Jose Rizal U gifted its coach Nani Epondulan a fitting debut as it stunned Letran, 73-69.

Mark Gojo Cruz led the scoring for Perpetual with 15 points, including three booming treys, while John Abis and John Boral, the team’s elder statesmen, chipped in 10 points apiece while combining for 13 rebounds while teaming up with Sleat in presiding over their rock-solid interior defense.

‘I like our defensive effort in this game, that was our battle cry before the game,’ said Racela.

The result spoiled the coaching debut of Rob Labagala at SSC-R.

Defending champion Coco Gauff brushed aside unseeded Eva Lys in straight sets Thursday to power into her third consecutive China Open semifinal.

The 21-year-old won 6-3, 6-4 and the world No. 3 next plays Amanda Anisimova in an all-American affair in Beijing.

‘I’m happy with how I played today,’ Gauff, seeded two, said. ‘(Lys is) a tough opponent.’

Anisimova had a longer struggle, coming back to beat sixth-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-4 in a gruelling two hours and 47 minutes.

There was a moment of tension in the second game of the third set when Paolini coughed and the umpire replaced Anisimova’s ace with a first serve.

Anisimova, who lost the US Open final to Aryna Sabalenka last month, survived six break points to level at 4-4 and closed out.

‘It was super tough,’ the 24-year-old third seed said.

SM City Santa Rosa IT Center is expected to boost Laguna’s standing as a preferred location for the IT-BPM sector, contributing to the expansion of investments outside Metro Manila, following its proclamation as an information technology economic zone.

SM Offices, a unit of integrated property developer SM Prime Holdings, has signed a registration agreement confirming the Presidential Proclamation of SM City Santa Rosa IT Center as an IT economic zone.

Proclamation 944, signed by President Marcos, officially designates a portion of SM City Santa Rosa as a special IT ecozone under PEZA.

SM Prime said the establishment of SM City Santa Rosa IT Center as an ecozone reinforces the shared goal of the company and PEZA to attract investments, generate employment and drive regional development across the country.

Accreditation as an IT ecozone under PEZA provides fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, including income tax holidays, tax and duty exemptions, streamlined import-export procedures and access to special non-immigrant visas.

The designation likewise ensures modern infrastructure and efficient government services, creating a strategic edge for registered IT enterprises in the country.

‘This partnership with PEZA underscores our dedication to providing world-class spaces for the IT-BPM industry. Santa Rosa is strategically located with access to talent, infrastructure and lifestyle amenities that will support long-term growth for companies and employees alike,’ SM Offices head Alexis Ortiga said.

PEZA director general Tereso Panga, for his part, said the proclamation of SM City Santa Rosa as an IT center opens new doors for job creation and investment opportunities in the countryside.

‘PEZA stands ready to handhold locators seeking to set up operations in the Philippines as we advance our country’s role as one of the leading global IT-BPM hubs in Asia,’ Panga said.

SM Offices supports the IT-BPM industry through PEZA-accredited developments such as its E-Com Centers at the Mall of Asia Complex and SM North EDSA Towers in Quezon City.

SM Prime said the addition of SM City Santa Rosa IT Center extends SM Offices’ reach to provincial growth corridors.

The 21st edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is now underway, finding a new home this year at the Shangri-la Plaza mall in Mandaluyong.

With Cinemalaya’s main home the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) still in renovation, the renowned festival has been shifting locations the past couple years, setting up shop in the Philippine International Convention Center and Parañaque’s Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

Shangri-la Plaza hosted the festival’s opening ceremony last October 3 ahead of 10 days of screenings, an honor it shares with select cinemas across Metro Manila including Gateway Cineplex and U.P. Town Center.

Actress-singer Julia Clarete, Directors Showcase Best Supporting Actress winner of Cinemalaya 2011 for “Bisperas,” hosted the ceremony which culminated in a screening of Indian film “Ha Lyngkha Bneng (The Elysian Field)” by Pradip Kurbah.

This year’s edition bears the theme “Layag sa Alon, Hangin, at Unos” which CCP president Kaye Tinga said reflects how festival entries “capture movements to moments in space and time.”

Deputy festival director Tess Rances noted in her speech that five of last year’s entries, led by Best film winner “Tumandok” and Special Jury Prize winner “Alipato at Muog,” received numerous accolades in different competitions.

“While millions of taxpayers are skimmed by politicians who are supposed to be in service of them, artists scrape the bottom of the pot to bring their ideas to life,” said Rances, taking a dig at lawmakers recenty tagged in corruption.

Rances urged the government to allocate funds for the arts, particularly for programs dedicated to film, “Laban po lahat ang korupsyon at suportahan ang sining.”

Veteran actress and Cinemalaya Foundation president Laurice Guillen, in formally opening this festival’s edition, noted in her own speech that 197 films by 165 filmmakers have been screened since Cinemalaya began back in 2005.

Echoing Rances’ words, Guillen recalled how National Artists Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal reflected Philippine society in their films during 1970s and 1980s.

Guillen said Bernal’s films, regardless of genre investigated the human condition and articulated such through his characters while noting that Brocka described the injustices of his time as “madness” and his characters “fought against all odds to bring sanity back in a world gone mad.”

“Every voice can bring hope, every voice that believes in the triumph of the human spirit is a spark that can bring change,” Guillen ended. “That is the challenge for the creative industry, for our filmmakers, and for Cinemalaya.”

The 21st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival runs until Oct. 12, 2025.

Every job has its share of after-work pains, including daily 9 to 5s behind a desk (plus overtime for some).

“Sitting is the new smoking,” quips Ma. Elena Lourdes R. Tan of Makati Medical Center’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “That means the lack of activity increases your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers – conditions associated with regular tobacco use.”

Beyond those conditions, another risk that could occur from being hunched over a desk is musculoskeletal pain, with Dr. Tan pointing out common issue among office workers is lower back pain.

Because people have curved postures when they’re seated, pain is also felt in the shoulders and neck.

Dr. Tan describes it as “tech neck” or “text neck” as it’s common among those who frequently use gadgets, “It’s stress caused from keeping your shoulders and head slumped forward and your chin practically touching your chest.”

The hands and wrists may also feel pain or weakness, especially when using a computer, and the doctor says that it is likely carpal tunnel syndrome.

“The carpal tunnel is a space in your wrist bone that serves as a passageway for tendons, ligaments, and nerves to reach your hand,” Dr. Tan explained. “When the median nerve in your carpal tunnel is irritated or damaged due to repetitive motions, it sends pain to your hand, wrist, and fingers.”

Speaking of computer use, hours of looking at a screen can affect one’s eyes leading to blurred vision, dryness, and headaches.

As such, Dr. Tan listed down a number of tips to avoid the risks of office-related pains and to work more comfortably.

Sitting right

Dr. Tan advises using a chair that supports the spine, and its height can be adjusted.

“Feet are flat on the floor, knees at the same level as the hips, and head straight, not bent forward,” she reminded.

The doctor added ensure one is at arm’s length from the computer, the wrists are straight and the hands level with the elbows.

Breaks

A five-minute break, not long ones, every 30 minutes can relax and recharge the body and brain, as well as give the eyes a rest.

How one spends their break varies – go for a walk, meditate, stretch, listen to music, read, eat, or chat with an officemate.

Ergonomic products

Standing desks are in these days because, as Dr. Tan points out, one isn’t hunched over when using one so the posture is more aligned.

“Still, you might have to take walking and sitting breaks with this type of desk, as standing for too long can be tough on your joints and the soles of your feet,” she added.

Other ergonomic products could be footrests or laptop risers, all of them designed to make the work environment more comfortable.

Exercise

Dr. Tan said exercise improves posture by strengthening the muscles that support the back, shoulders, and core.

Excercising also releases mood-enhancing endorphins that lift the spirit to relax oneself after a long day.

The doctor advises simple stretches like neck shoulder rolls, chest stretches, and torso twists, as well as quick exercises such as squats and triceps dip using a chair, seated movements like calf raises and knee to chest, and wall push-ups and sits.

Every five minutes, someone in the Philippines loses their sight-not from rare or untreatable illnesses, but from conditions that can often be prevented or managed if detected early.

Cataracts, glaucoma and uncorrected refractive errors affect more than a million Filipinos, yet eye health continues to be underprioritized in the national health agenda.

According to the Philippine Eye Disease Study conducted in 2018, around 1.98% of Filipinos live with visual impairment, defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18 in the better eye.

The percentage may seem small, but it represents lives profoundly affected: careers interrupted, children falling behind in school, older adults losing independence and families under strain.

Among the main causes of visual impairment in the country are retinal diseases such as diabetic macular edema (DME), neovascular or ‘wet’ age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), and its subtype polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). These are complex conditions that require advanced diagnostics and long-term treatment, yet they remain under-recognized and undertreated. Cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors still account for a large portion of blindness, while glaucoma contributes significantly.

But the growing burden of retinal diseases highlights a deeper challenge: these conditions cannot simply be resolved through surgery or corrective lenses and they demand sustained access to innovative therapies.

The social and economic impact of vision loss extends well beyond the clinic. A recent Asia-Pacific (APAC) Vision Health Survey offers important insights into the lived experiences of Filipinos facing or fearing visual impairment.

More than half of respondents-50.5%-believe vision loss would cause financial hardship, the highest rate across eight Asian countries surveyed. Nearly three-quarters worry it would compromise their ability to perform daily tasks such as cooking or cleaning.

Caregivers are also heavily affected, with many reporting difficulty taking time off work or income loss due to family responsibilities. And among Filipinos with diabetes, 84.6% report vision-related symptoms-the highest rate in the region.

While these figures are concerning, they also signal an opportunity for action. New research is bringing greater attention to a lesser-known eye disease that disproportionately affects Asians: polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, or PCV.

In simple terms, PCV occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, the part of the eye responsible for clear vision. These vessels can leak or bleed, causing sudden and often permanent vision loss. PCV is often grouped under ‘wet’ age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), but it behaves differently, requires specific diagnostic tests and may respond differently to treatment.

This condition is particularly relevant for the Philippines because of its prevalence in Asian populations. Around 60% of global PCV cases are found in Asia, yet most clinical trials and treatment guidelines have historically focused on Western populations. This gap has left many Asian patients underrepresented in evidence and practice.

In the Philippines, a recent local study titled ‘Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy features among Filipino eyes with neovascular AMD based on APOIS criteria’ found that 53.3% of eyes initially diagnosed with nAMD actually showed features consistent with PCV.

In other words, more than half of patients may be living with a subtype of disease that is frequently misdiagnosed, leading to treatment approaches that may not deliver the best results.

This is especially concerning in a country where access to eye care is uneven. Fewer than one in three Filipinos undergo an annual eye exam.

In rural areas, ophthalmologists and diagnostic equipment are limited. Public awareness of retinal diseases like PCV remains low, and advanced tests such as indocyanine green angiography-which are critical to confirm PCV-are often unaffordable.

Without targeted policies and better access, many Filipinos remain at risk of losing their vision unnecessarily.

There are, however, encouraging developments. At the EURETINA 2025 Congress in Paris, one-year results of the SALWEEN Phase IIIb/IV trial were presented, demonstrating sustained improvements for patients with PCV across Asia. Patients in the study achieved an average gain of +8.9 letters in vision, with more than half able to extend dosing intervals to five months.

These findings show that with the right therapies, lasting improvements are possible. On the policy front, progress has also been made.

This year, PhilHealth introduced an optometric benefit package for children aged 0 to 15 years old. Under PhilHealth Circular 2025-0002, vision assessments, refraction and prescription eyeglasses-including lenses and frames-are now covered.

This reform could significantly reduce childhood vision problems, particularly in underserved communities. PhilHealth also increased reimbursement rates for cataract surgery, now ranging from P20,200 to P80,900 depending on lens type. These reforms are meaningful steps toward strengthening the public eye care system.

Yet gaps remain. Addressing cataracts and providing eyeglasses are important, but they cover only part of the vision health landscape.

For conditions like PCV and diabetic eye disease, patients also need earlier detection, access to advanced diagnostic tools, and appropriate long-term treatment-all of which are still out of reach for many. Eye health should be more firmly integrated into national strategies on noncommunicable diseases, aging, and disability.

PhilHealth benefit packages must continue to expand, covering retinal imaging, anti-VEGF therapies, and other necessary interventions to help patients preserve their sight.

Policy reforms must also be supported by investments in infrastructure. Mobile eye clinics, barangay-level screenings and better-equipped rural health units can extend care to more communities. Training additional ophthalmic specialists and ensuring sustainable funding will also be critical.

Public awareness is another piece of the puzzle. Families need information about early warning signs, the importance of routine eye checkups, and where to seek care. Partnerships among government, private sector, and civil society can amplify education, prevention, and access through nationwide campaigns and local initiatives.

The convergence of new science and stronger policies provides a unique chance to make preventable blindness a problem of the past. But research and reforms must translate into real outcomes for real people. Vision is not a privilege; it is a basic need that shapes opportunity, dignity, and independence.

Every day without action is another day when a parent may lose the ability to provide for their family, or a grandparent may slip into dependency. Vision loss takes away not just sight, but quality of life for patients and for the families who support them.

The tools to change this reality already exist. The task now is to act with urgency, coordination, and commitment. So that every Filipino, regardless of age or income, has the chance to live fully with the gift of sight.

Victims of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rocked Cebu can now avail themselves of free orthopedic treatment under PhilHealth’s ‘Z benefits’ package, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Saturday, October 4.

DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the expanded benefit was approved by the PhilHealth Board to help survivors who suffered fractures and other bone injuries after being hit or trapped by falling debris.

“‘Yung sa orthopedic Z benefit package kaya importante ‘yan dun sa gawi ng PhilHealth, kasi kunwari nabalian ang isang tao dahil nga dun sa lindol. Ang karaniwang ginagawa po ng mga orthopedic surgeons, naglalagay po ng mga tinatawag na implants. ‘Yan po ay mga bakal na kung tawagin nga po. Mahal po yan kaya nahihirapan ang ating mga kababayan,” Domingo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(The orthopedic Z benefit package is important under PhilHealth’s system because, for instance, if a person suffers a bone fracture due to the earthquake, orthopedic surgeons typically insert what are called implants, which are metal components used to stabilize broken bones. These implants are very expensive, which is why many Filipinos struggle to afford them.)

The new orthopedic Z package will allow patients to undergo surgery and receive implants at no cost, under a zero-balance billing policy.

‘Wala na po silang kailangang gastusin (They will no longer have to spend anything),’ Domingo said.

The DOH official clarified that the benefit will cover even patients confined in non-accredited private hospitals, as long as their injuries were caused by the earthquake or its aftershocks.

He also clarified that the benefit is retroactive to the date of the quake.

“Retroactive to the time of the incident kailan nag-lindol, kahit po kayo ay nadischarge at ngayon lang nag-approve, ‘wag kayong magalala sasaklawan ‘yung bill ninyo,” the DOH official said.

(It’s retroactive to the time of the earthquake. Even if you’ve already been discharged and the approval came only now, don’t worry, your hospital bill will still be covered.)

To fast-track implementation, the DOH said it has coordinated with hospitals across Cebu and will issue provisional accreditations where necessary.

The health department continues to operate under Code Blue Alert, the highest emergency status, while aftershocks persist in the province.

Domingo said the DOH maintains round-the-clock monitoring and has so far deployed 163 medical personnel to assist affected communities.

‘Every 24 hours, nagrereport at nag-aassess kung ilan ang nadeploy at kung saan pa kailangan,’ Domingo added.

(Every 24 hours, they report and assess how many personnel have been deployed and where else they are needed.)

In a separate interview on Saturday, Domingo said the DOH will deploy additional mental health and psychosocial support teams to Cebu on a rotational basis.

‘Mayroon tayong Mental Health and Psychosocial Service team na ide-deploy sa Cebu province para iyon ang mag-aasikaso doon sa mental health,’ he said.

(We have a Mental Health and Psychosocial Service team that will be deployed to Cebu province to take care of the mental health needs there.)

The earthquake killed at least 68 people, injured nearly 600 and displaced over 77,000 residents in hard-hit towns like Bogo City and Medellin.

Officials declared a state of calamity in Cebu province to unlock emergency funds and give local governments flexibility to hasten rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Construction firms owned by contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya could face fines totaling as much as P300 billion due to alleged bid rigging in over 1,200 flood control projects, the Department of Public Works and Highways announced yesterday.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the department has referred cases of bid manipulation and bid rigging to the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) for a preliminary inquiry and possible filing of charges under Republic Act 10667, the Philippine Competition Act.

The cases involve 12 flood control projects in Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro, which include five contractors. Among them is St. Timothy Construction Corp., owned by the Discaya couple, which secured two of these projects.

Other contractors implicated include Wawao Builders and Sunwest Inc., each with three projects, as well as IM Construction Corp. and SYMS Construction Trading Inc., each with two projects.

‘What we are asking from the PCC is to investigate the bid manipulation with the appropriate penalty per contract violation,’ Dizon said in Filipino during a press conference in Quezon City.

Dizon estimated penalties for the 12 projects at around P2.3 billion but warned the Discaya couple could face much steeper fines for the rest of the projects they obtained from the government.

From 2016 to 2025, companies owned by the Discayas reportedly won 1,214 flood control projects worth a total of P77.934 billion.

With the maximum penalty set at P250 million per contract, Dizon projected the Discayas could be fined up to P300 billion.

The DPWH chief also pointed to the couple’s admission before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, where they acknowledged their companies’ participation in bid rigging, as critical evidence.

‘We have to throw everything at these people. We will file every possible case because they need to be held accountable,’ Dizon stressed, underscoring the government’s determination to recover billions of pesos in public funds lost through questionable flood control projects.

In addition, the DPWH has forwarded a list of 18 properties owned by the Discaya couple to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for possible forfeiture in favor of the government.

These properties, including the couple’s mansion in Pasig City, have an appraised value of around P1 billion and have been targeted by angry protesters.

License revocation

The DPWH is also moving to revoke the licenses of 20 engineers and other professionals implicated in anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan.

Dizon submitted yesterday to Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chair Charito Zamora pieces of evidence for the revocation of the licenses of engineers, accountants and architects allegedly involved in the projects.

Among those tagged as ‘superstars’ in the anomaly are former Bulacan first district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza and Paul Jayson Duya.

Dizon said the move is in compliance with President Marcos’ directive to hold accountable not only contractors but also DPWH officials and other professionals linked to the corruption scandal.

The evidence turned over included fraud audit reports from the Commission on Audit and findings from the DPWH’s internal audit service.

To institutionalize cooperation, Dizon and Zamora signed a memorandum of agreement to strengthen coordination between the two agencies in imposing sanctions against professionals involved in government corruption.

‘It’s not just about accountability, but it’s also about safeguarding the institutions and the projects that DPWH is doing from now moving forward,’ Dizon added.

For her part, Zamora gave assurance that the PRC will act on the request with substantial evidence but emphasized that due process will be observed.

‘We will give them a chance to reply and after that, the body will decide,’ she said, noting that those implicated will have 15 days to respond.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said local government units have reported substandard and ghost flood control projects nationwide, with findings set to be submitted to President Marcos by month’s end.

More assets frozen

Beyond administrative sanctions, financial regulators have also intensified their crackdown.

The AMLC has secured a fourth freeze order from the Court of Appeals, bringing the total value of immobilized assets linked to alleged corruption in flood control projects to more than P4 billion.

In a resolution dated Oct. 3, the appellate court ordered the freezing of 57 bank accounts, 10 real properties and nine motor vehicles identified by the AMLC as potentially connected to irregular infrastructure spending.

‘This marks another firm step in the government’s broader crackdown on corruption in public infrastructure projects,’ the AMLC said, noting that the action builds on earlier directives that froze billions in alleged illicit wealth.

To date, four separate freeze orders have covered 1,620 bank accounts, 54 insurance policies, 163 motor vehicles, 40 real properties and 12 e-wallet accounts.

Investigators said these include a luxury compound in a prime urban district, high-end vehicles, virtual currencies and unit investment trust funds.

‘These freezes are real actions that stop corruption,’ AMLC executive director Matthew David said. ‘Every peso frozen is a peso that cannot be used to sustain corruption.’

The cumulative value of immobilized assets has now exceeded P4 billion, with the amount expected to rise as financial trails are further uncovered.

The latest freeze order is part of ongoing investigations into irregularities in flood control spending, a sector repeatedly flagged by oversight bodies for leakages, overpriced contracts and misuse of public funds.

The AMLC, created under Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, has the authority to investigate suspicious transactions and secure judicial orders to immobilize assets suspected of being tied to unlawful activities.

‘The AMLC remains committed to tracing financial links to public sector anomalies,’ David stressed, underscoring the agency’s role in dismantling networks that profit from misused taxpayer money.

Malacañang has declared several special non-working holidays in parts of the country this October and November to allow residents to commemorate their founding anniversaries, festivals and historical milestones.

The holidays were issued under Proclamations No. 1045 to 1051, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to the Presidential News Desk.

Here’s the list of declared special non-working holidays:

October 9 – San Isidro, Surigao del Norte

Declared under Proclamation No. 1045, the date marks the 66th founding anniversary of San Isidro.

October 16 – Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur

Under Proclamation No. 1046, residents of Lapuyan will observe the 68th founding anniversary of the town.

October 20 – Batac City, Ilocos Norte

Proclamation No. 1047 declares the date as a holiday to mark the 159th birth anniversary of General Artemio Ricarte, a revolutionary leader born in Batac who played a key role in both the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War.

October 28 – Dingle, Iloilo

Proclamation No. 1048 recognizes the date to commemorate the Cry of Lincud, the first declaration of revolution against Spain in Iloilo and the whole Panay Island in 1898.

October 29 – Mati City, Davao Oriental

Under Proclamation No. 1049, the city will celebrate the Sambuokan Festival in commemoration of the municipality’s establishment before becoming a city.

October 30 – San Isidro, Davao del Norte

Proclamation No. 1050 sets the day as a holiday for the Sikwate Festival.

November 4 – Quezon province

Under Proclamation No. 1051, the province will commemorate the death anniversary of Apolinario dela Cruz, also known as Hermano Puli, a hero and religious leader who led a movement for equality during the Spanish colonial period.

Yeng Guiao has been a basketball coach for 33 years, starting with the defunct Philippine Amateur Basketball League. He has always been known as a firebrand, a maverick, a catalyst for change. Over the years, the seven-time PBA champion mentor has nurtured his values in doing things the long way, the right way, some would say the hard way. He’s outspoken, blunt, down to earth, transparent. What’s right is right; what’s wrong is wrong. Period.

‘It’s probably the way I was brought up by my parents,’ he told The STAR and Basketball Universe PHL. ‘My father (10-year Pampanga governor Bren Guiao) said that if you’re doing what is right, even if other people are doing things differently, you should stick to your beliefs.’

Entering the PBA’s 50th season, the Rain or Shine head coach picked eight players in the annual PBA Rookie Draft. The four who survived are still fulfilling their collegiate and MPBL commitments, and will only be able to join the Elasto Painters in January. It will take even more time for them to blend in with the team, and learn from their elders Gabe Norwood and Beau Belga. Still, the retired politician is confident that RoS will be able to surpass the semifinals this season.

‘We were in the semis four consecutive conferences,’ Guiao explains. ‘That’s enough experience. This team is ripe. We hope to break through the ceiling of the semifinals.’

The 66-year-old tactician also shared that he does not see himself retiring. He’s been a player, Philippine Basketball League commissioner, and coach in the PBL, PBA and at the national team level. He says that he still tries to learn something every day. The game has evolved so much from when he started, from the emergence of dominant big men and athletic one-on-one players to the era where everyone can shoot from the outside and spacing is everything. Yeng doesn’t see himself retiring himself ever.

‘You can’t retire from life,’ he declares. ‘This is what I do. Retiring means starting from scratch again, and finding something to do. I don’t think about that. There’s still so much to learn.’

So Guiao will do what he does best, developing players who would otherwise never achieve greatness, speak out against what he feels is unfair, and build champion teams the long way, the hard way, the right way. He savors the progress his players make, which he counts as wins that give him lasting fulfillment. No quick fixes. He knows that, sooner than later, he will bring Rain or Shine to their first championship since 2016. For him, that will be worth 10 championship trophies won the easy way.