GUIAO SLAPPED ONE-GAME SUSPENSION, ESCAPES FINE

Fiery Red Bull mentor expresses concern over interpretation of rules
Philippine Basketball Association website
Monday, 22 October 2007

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao will not be around when the Barakos test the mettle of the Welcoat Dragons Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The temperamental tactician was suspended for one game by PBA Officer-in-Charge Renauld "Sonny" Barrios in the aftermath of Guiao's outburst moments after his team's 95-102 loss to the Barangay Ginebra Kings, the defending Philippine Cup champions, last Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Barrios didn't impose any fine, saying the suspension is severe enough punishment as he warned other coaches and players as well that conduct unbecoming would be dealt with severely.

Before handing the verdict, Barrios had a brief discussion with Guiao behind closed doors Monday. Guiao arrived at the PBA office before noon.

Barrios described their meeting as "very professional," with the Red Bull coach conducting himself as a true-blue sportsman.

"Basically, Yeng's concern centers on the interpretation of the refs on the new rules. He said a lot of unnecessary contacts are being allowed and players get hurt,” Barrios said.

"I told Yeng the objective of the new rules is to just add more excitement and spice up the game and not to encourage rough plays."

The league’s head honcho also committed to Guiao that "I will take to heart his inputs and share them with the game officials."

Guiao's outburst on Friday wasn't triggered by a bad call, though.

Soon after the Ginebra-Red Bull game ended, Guiao walked across the court and confronted and berated Perry Martinez, the PBA technical group chief, over a confusion stemming from an inbound play by Ginebra in the closing seconds of the game. (DBC)