RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao admitted he was disappointed to see Caelan Tiongson withdraw from Gilas Pilipinas’ Asian Games lineup, saying he wanted the Fil-Am forward to experience representing the country.
Tiongson, 34, begged off from joining the national team due to a personal matter, leaving Gilas without another key option ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Guiao said he was hopeful Tiongson would get the chance to play for the Philippines, but understood that the veteran forward had personal matters to attend to, along with documents that still needed to be completed.
“Nasasayangan din ako. Nasasayangan din ako. Gusto ko ma-experience din ni Caelan maglaro para sa bansa,” Guiao said.
“Pero, kahit gusto niya, of course, may personal side siya na hindi ko naman alam kung ano. And then at the same time, mayroon pa siyang mga lalakaring, kukompletohing mga papeles.”
Guiao believes the combination of Tiongson’s personal circumstances and the paperwork he still needs to accomplish may have prompted him to give up his slot.
“So, siguro, iyung combination ng dalawang ’yun, baka minabuti niya na na maibigay sa iba iyung slot niya,” he said.
Tiongson becomes the third player to withdraw from the Gilas Asian Games pool, following Jason Perkins and Jordan Heading.
In their absence, head coach Tim Cone added Justin Arana, Justine Baltazar and RJ Abarrientos to the Asian Games roster.
The three players joined the team’s practice on Tuesday as Gilas prepares for a pair of friendly matches against South Korea in Suwon on Sept. 4 and 6.
The Philippines will then travel to Japan on Sept. 7, with the basketball competition in the Asian Games beginning on Sept. 10. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
