Despite a stunning early exit from the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup playoffs, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao is choosing to focus on the franchise's promising future. The team failed to reach the semifinals for the first time in five conferences after a surprising loss in the quarterfinals.
A Shocking Quarterfinal Defeat
The Elasto Painters entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed, which earned them a valuable twice-to-beat advantage. However, they were upset by the No. 7 seeded Meralco Bolts in a single game. The final score of the match, held on January 4, 2026, was 98-89 in favor of Meralco, abruptly ending Rain or Shine's championship hopes for the conference.
Guiao's Forward-Looking Perspective
Coach Guiao openly admitted to feeling disappointment following the loss. "Gidawat niya nga nasagmuyo siya pagkahuman sa kapildihan," as reported, acknowledging his frustration. However, the veteran tactician was quick to shift the narrative toward optimism.
"The more important thing to me is the team remains competitive, its potential and upside are very bright," Guiao explained. He framed the setback as a temporary hurdle in a larger, positive journey. "So we preferred to look at it as along the way there’s going to be some trials, tribulations, and some obstacles."
Maintaining an Upward Trajectory
Emphasizing his confidence in the team's direction, Guiao added a crucial point about their overall progress. "But yung trend namin, yung direction namin is still going up. Mataas pa rin naman," he stated. This perspective underscores his belief that this loss is a stumble, not a fall, for the Elasto Painters' development.
The focus for Coach Yeng Guiao and the Rain or Shine franchise now turns to regrouping and building on the competitive foundation they established during the Philippine Cup elimination round, using this playoff experience as a lesson for the conferences ahead in PBA Season 50.
