Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao believes the PBA’s transition toward FIBA rules could benefit Philippine basketball in the long run, but not without a few growing pains.
As the league continues aligning its rulebook more closely with international standards ahead of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, the veteran mentor acknowledged the intention behind the changes while pointing out several areas he believes still need refinement.
For Guiao, adapting to the new system will take time—not just for players, but for coaches, officials, and teams as a whole.
“Fiba rules are okay, but I think it may take some time for teams to get used to it,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said. “I still think there are PBA rules that can still improve the game. But I guess the PBA is trying to help our national team by leaning towards Fiba rules.
“But there’s no perfect system. We know that some of the PBA rules are lacking by themselves and the same can be said with Fiba rules,” added the outspoken mentor.
Rather than criticizing the league’s decision outright, Guiao recognized the PBA’s effort to better prepare Filipino players for international competition, where FIBA regulations have long been the standard.
Still, one particular change stood out for the longtime coach—the revised Challenge System.
Under the new guidelines, teams are now limited to a single coach’s challenge regardless of whether the original challenge is successful. Previously, coaches who won a challenge were rewarded with another opportunity later in the game.
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Guiao believes the revised rule reduces a coach’s ability to correct crucial officiating errors, especially during tightly contested matches.
He also took issue with another limitation carried over from FIBA rules: the inability to directly challenge foul calls.
“You cannot challenge the fouls,” he said. “You can only challenge whether it would be upgraded or downgraded. So the leverage goes back to the referees. If the referees make a mistake, you cannot do anything about it. Unlike before, as a coach, you can have a remedy.”
For Guiao, the concern is less about resisting change and more about preserving coaches’ ability to seek corrections when critical mistakes occur.
As the PBA embraces a rulebook that mirrors the international game, coaches and teams are expected to adjust throughout the conference. But if Guiao’s observations are any indication, the transition could also spark continued discussions on whether every aspect of the FIBA system is the best fit for the country’s professional league.
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