Yeng Guiao running anew for House seat, vows it won't affect Gilas preps

Philippine national basketball coach Yeng Guiao filed his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Election office in the City of San Fernando on Monday in the hope of retaking his seat in Pampanga’s first district.

The Gilas Pilipinas coach told GMA News Online on Tuesday said his candidacy for the 2019 elections will not get in the way of whipping the national basketball team into shape as it continues its journey through the qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Guiao took the reins of the national squad from Chot Reyes following the infamous Gilas-Australia brawl.

Reyes has already said he is stepping down from the Gilas coaching post to give way to Guiao. The SBP is expected to formalize their decision to appoint Guiao as the new coach before the next window.

"Sanay naman akong mag-double ng work, for politics and basketball. Multi-tasking," Guiao told told GMA News Online. 

The move adds a political campaign to his busy 2019 schedule, which includes preparing Gilas for qualifying games on the road against Kazakhstan and Qatar in February.

But when asked in a phone interview if a political comeback would affect his coaching duties, Guiao said, "Wala naman siyang effect."

He pointed out that the official campaign period for the House of Representatives seat doesn't start until March. According to the official Comelec calendar, candidates running as members of the House of Representatives can campaign from March 30, 2019 to May 11, 2019.

He added that he made the decision with the blessing of not only his players, but also his bosses at the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the NLEX Road Warriors, which he also coaches in the PBA.

"They've been very supportive," Guiao said.

The congressional hopeful, who had also served as Pampanga Vice Governor, said he had some unfinished business as the 1st District Representative, which includes establishing the Clark International Airport an official alternative for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). —JST, GMA News