Romwel Anzures

Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) President’s Awardee Yeng Guiao with Atty. Jun Guzman and his former Chief of Staff Mon Navarra. Photo courtesy/PSA.

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<div style="line-height:1.5"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771313999673Pix 27.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) President’s Awardee Yeng Guiao with his family. Photo courtesy/PSA."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) President’s Awardee Yeng Guiao with his family.<em> Photo courtesy/PSA.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Yeng Guiao stood at the forefront of a landmark achievement for Philippine sports, but the veteran basketball mentor and former Pampanga congressman stressed that the real victory lies in building a better future for the next generation.</div><p style="line-height:1.5">The Rain or Shine ElastoPainters head coach was honored Monday with the President’s Award at the Philippines Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.</p><div style="line-height:1.5"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/2/9/yeng-guiao-bestowed-with-psa-president-s-award-1428">READ: Yeng Guiao bestowed with PSA President’s Award</a></div><p style="line-height:1.5">The recognition came after Guiao won a long legal battle mandating the full remittance of the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) shares from both the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), as directed under Republic Act 6847.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“I’d like to thank the Supreme Court for giving us this victory, 15-0, after 10 years of struggle and waiting,” he said. “But we did not do this to be remembered. We did this to be of service, whether we’re forgotten or not.”</p><p style="line-height:1.5">Guiao admitted that achieving their desired outcome once seemed nearly impossible.  But now that the ruling has gone their way, he said what truly deserves celebration is the support that national athletes will finally receive.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“Sumuntok po tayo sa buwan,” the former Gilas Pilipinas mentor said. “Suntok sa buwan, pero paminsan-minsan, tatamaan niyo yung buwan. Sino ba si Yeng Guiao, to go to the Supreme Court and ask them to take away billions of funds from the Office of the President?”</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“It was political suicide. But maybe somebody had to commit political suicide so that Philippine sports could breathe some fresh air,” he added.</p><div style="line-height:1.5"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/2/9/yeng-guiao-bestowed-with-psa-president-s-award-1428">READ: Guiao says SC decision on PAGCOR, PCSO remittances can&#x27;t be a &#x27;moral victory&#x27;</a></div><div style="line-height:1.5">Guiao acknowledged those who stood with him in the legal fight: his counsel, Atty. Jun Guzman, and his former chief of staff Mon Navarra, now chief political officer of Senator Risa Hontiveros.<br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771314083423Pix 28.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) President’s Awardee Yeng Guiao with Atty. Jun Guzman and his former Chief of Staff Mon Navarra. Photo courtesy/PSA."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) President’s Awardee Yeng Guiao with Atty. Jun Guzman and his former Chief of Staff Mon Navarra. <em>Photo courtesy/PSA.</em></span></span></span>“No compensation, just hard work,” he said.</div><p style="line-height:1.5">He also paid tribute to his parents and his family, crediting them for instilling the perseverance and character that fueled the decade-long battle.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“I’d also like to pay tribute to my parents, who taught me to care for others,” added Guiao, son of the late former Pampanga Governor Bren Z. Guiao. “Yes, I may be strict, I may be yelling at my players, but deep inside, I’m still a kind person.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“That was engraved in me by my parents, to live a simple life, to care for others, to value competence and integrity, and to be a bulldog when you are right.”</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“Sports have given me a good life. It’s given me material things, wisdom and knowledge. So the best way to pay it forward was to stake my efforts and reputation in pursuing this case with Atty. Jun and Mon Navarra,” he added.<strong></strong><br/></p><div style="line-height:1.5"><br/></div><div style="line-height:1.5"><strong>More than sports</strong></div><p style="line-height:1.5">The Supreme Court ruling, he noted, also had ripple effects beyond sports.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">It became part of Philippine jurisprudence and influenced how public funds are safeguarded in governance.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“Our case was cited in the PhilHealth ruling,” Guiao said, referring to the order to return P60 billion to PhilHealth after funds were diverted to the national treasury.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“Our case was cited, and P60 billion were returned for the use of our countrymen, so may iba po siyang impact hindi lang sa sports,” he furthered.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">Overall, Guiao said his efforts reflect his vision: “Make life a little better for those people coming after you.”</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“This victory is for the athletes of the coming generation, for our sports leaders, and for our countrymen in general,” he said. “Sana po dumami pa ang mga Carlos Yulo, mga Hidilyn Diaz, mga Alex Eala, mga EJ Obiena. And I will be happy and satisfied that we’ve had a small part in that.”</p>

<p>Yeng Guiao stood at the forefront of a landmark achievement for Philippine sports, but the veteran basketball mentor and former Pampanga congressman stressed that the real victory lies in building a better future for the next generation.</p>

Yeng Guiao stood at the forefront of a landmark achievement for Philippine sports, but the veteran basketball mentor and former Pampanga congressman stressed that the real victory lies in building a better future for the next generation.

Guiao on winning SC ruling: ‘Make life better for those people coming after you’

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Guiao on winning SC ruling: ‘Make life better for those people coming after you’

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 17, 2026 04:20 PM PHT

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