Yeng Guiao happy to do half for PH sports activities after profitable lengthy underdog battle

PBA coach and former congressman Yeng Guiao scores what he considers the most important achievement of his profession because the Supreme Courtroom grants his 2016 petition ordering PAGCOR and PCSO to the remit a portion of their annual earnings totaling billions to the Philippine Sports activities Fee

MANILA, Philippines – Yeng Guiao has at all times been an underdog.

Within the PBA, he coaches one of many few impartial groups, Rain or Shine, and it has been a decade since he gained his final championship because the league continues to be dominated by the identical golf equipment which have taken turns on the throne. 

Uncommon because the occasion could also be, although, underdogs discover methods to win.

Guiao scored what he considers the most important achievement of his profession — in sports activities and in laws — because the Supreme Courtroom granted his petition compelling the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Company (PAGCOR) to remit the total quantity of 5% of its gross annual revenue from 1993 to current to the Philippine Sports activities Fee (PSC) in accordance with Republic Act No. 6847. 

The Supreme Courtroom additionally ordered the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Workplace (PCSO) to remit to the PSC 30% representing the charity fund of the proceeds of six sweepstakes or lottery attracts per 12 months, together with its lotto attracts from 2006 to the current. 

It’s a monumental victory that earned Guiao the President’s Award from the Philippine Sportswriters Affiliation as he grew to become the primary non-athlete to be bestowed the honour.

“That is my approach of paying it ahead. Sports activities has given me life – my household and I. It’s given me materials issues, knowledge, data, and nice expertise. And for me, one of the simplest ways to pay it ahead was simply to stake my effort and status to pursuing this case,” stated Guiao in his charming acceptance speech. 

Guiao filed the petition in 2016 simply months earlier than he ended his time period as congressman of Pampanga’s 1st District.

He thought it was “political suicide” to go up in opposition to PAGCOR, PCSO, and the Workplace of the President, however the firebrand mentor identified for his ferocity and gumption gritted his enamel and soldiered on in what appeared like a David-versus-Goliath battle.

It helped that Guiao had a supporting forged in his former chief of employees Mon Navarra and lawyer Jun Guzman, whom he each requested to be on stage with him through the awards evening on the Diamond Lodge on Monday, February 16. 

After almost a decade, the Supreme Courtroom dominated in Guiao’s favor in 2024 and denied the motions for reconsideration filed by PAGCOR and PCSO in 2025. 

Guiao stated he estimates that Philippine sports activities will profit a complete of P37 billion in amassed funds — a staggering quantity that, based on him, will elevate PSC’s month-to-month finances from a median of P180 million to shut to P500 million. 

“We shot for the moon. It was a protracted shot, however occasionally, you’ll hit it large. We didn’t truly count on that we may win this one. Once we have been planning it out, we thought that we may persuade others to affix us,” stated Guiao. 

“Who’s Yeng Guiao to go to the Supreme Courtroom and ask the Supreme Courtroom to remove billions of funds from the Workplace of the President? It was political suicide. If the president will get indignant, you’re executed. However possibly any individual needed to commit political suicide in order that Philippine sports activities can breathe some contemporary air.” 

Guiao paid tribute to his late father Bren, a former governor of Pampanga, and mom Teresita, crediting his dad and mom for his upbringing. 

“Sure, I could also be strict. I could also be yelling at my gamers. However deep inside, I’m nonetheless a form individual. And that was ingrained in me by my dad and mom — to stay a easy life, to look after others, to worth competence and integrity, and to be a bulldog when you recognize you’re proper,” he stated. 

“I’ve at all times believed that you just honor your dad and mom with the individual that you turn out to be. So I’d prefer to honor my dad and mom with this award.” 

Now that he has executed his half, Guiao trusts the PSC, underneath the management of chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, to place the funds to good use as he hopes to see extra Filipino sports activities heroes excel on the world stage. 

“This victory is a victory for athletes of the approaching era. It’s a victory for our sports activities leaders. It’s a victory for our countrymen usually. I hope there will likely be extra like Carlos Yulo, like Hidilyn Diaz, like Alex Eala, like EJ Obiena. And I will likely be blissful and happy that we’ve had a small half in that,” stated Guiao. 

“In every week, in a month’s time, in a 12 months’s time, we will likely be forgotten. However that isn’t necessary as a result of we didn’t do that to be remembered. We did this to be of service, whether or not we’re forgotten or not, and we all know we will likely be. However the satisfaction that’s realizing that in our personal small approach, we have now paid it ahead.”

“The very best tales on this planet are sports activities tales, are athletes tales, as a result of they’re at all times genuine. You can’t faux tales of athletes,” he added. “And I’m grateful and blissful that by some means, possibly I’ll be within the tales of the following era of athletes.” – Rappler.com