Coach Yeng Guiao on dealing with stress, and the traits he looks for in his players

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(First of a four-part “Gilas Coach Life Series”)

If you’re a basketball fan, chances are high that you’ve seen Coach Yeng Guiao get fired up on multiple occasions during a game. You may have wondered how this veteran coach of 33 years keeps the fire burning. At the same time, you might also wonder how he has survived and thrived despite the high level of stress that comes with the job.

I had the chance to speak with Coach Yeng on our weekly podcast with veteran journalist Homer Sayson, and he shared some interesting philosophies and pieces of advice on how he deals with pressure at work.

For Filipinos, basketball is more than just a sport — it’s part of the culture, a way of life. Beyond games, it also teaches values. It cannot be denied that pro basketball, like other pro sports, can be a stressful environment. In this article, we talk about that one challenge we all face in life: stress, and how Coach Yeng deals with it.

The real Coach Yeng Guiao

As a seven-time champion and two-time Coach of the Year in the PBA, Coach Yeng undeniably has vast experience and knowledge of the game. But beyond sports, he is also a well-established personality — a commentator, motivator and public servant who has held numerous positions in his home province of Pampanga.

Known for his passion and hard-nosed coaching style, Guiao has experienced the highs and lows of coaching, including the pressure that comes with it. When asked about the effect of stress on him, he responded humorously:

“Yung sa akin, yung naubusan lang ako ng buhok, sa stress din yun eh. Pero para hindi mahalata, kinalbo ko na sarili ko. Pero nasanay na tayo, 33 years na tayo.”

It was a light-hearted answer from a fierce competitor on the basketball court, a side that many fans rarely see. But what he said next revealed the deeper reality of coaching.

“Kinakabahan ka pa rin, natatakot ka pa rin, meron ka pa ring insecurities, but you learn to handle them,” he added.

Even after more than three decades in coaching, for Guiao, the pressure never truly disappears. For him, what matters is how you manage it.

Easing pressure early

Many of us hold on to work problems and, worse, take them with us at home. Coach Yeng emphasizes that over the years, he has learned to release pressure early and transition from work mode to personal mode, starting from the moment he gets into his car after a game.

He believes that releasing pressure early helps clear the mind and prevents overthinking, which can eventually affect your health.

“Pag natalo ka, hindi mo na dinadala sa bahay. ‘Pag sakay mo sa kotse, tapos na laro. ‘Pag uwi mo sa bahay, nag-eenjoy ka na.”

The passionate coach revealed that even after all these years, his love for the game has never waned. Instead, he developed coping mechanisms that allow him to balance work and life, something many of us still struggle to do.

The idea of balance may sound simple, but it is often difficult to practice, especially in stressful professions.

In my own line of work as a content creator, there is almost always something happening online. The fear of missing out on trending news and topics can keep us glued to social media. Over time, that can lead to fatigue, burnout and imbalance.

Coach Yeng, despite being deeply passionate about his work, has learned to disconnect and separate work from personal life. When you do this, it not only protects your health, it also makes you more effective and energized when you return to work.

But aside from managing stress, the environment and the people around you also play a major role.

How he chooses his players and how you can apply it in life

If you’re thinking, “I’m not a coach and I don’t manage a basketball team, so this doesn’t apply to me,” think again.

Choosing the right players for your team is very similar to choosing the right friends or employees for your organization. You need chemistry.

Just like in basketball, everyone must fit into the system. Everyone has a role, everyone contributes, and everyone works toward a common goal.

When you think about it, basketball teaches lessons far beyond the sport itself.

If you want to win in basketball, business or life in general, these are the types of people you should surround yourself with.

4 traits Coach Yeng looks for in his players

1. Hardworking

Coach Yeng says players who barely exert effort can drive a coach crazy.

The same applies to employees and even friends. Imagine working with someone who lacks motivation or refuses to give their best. These types of people can drain your energy and push a team toward mediocrity. Effort is the bridge to success. If you want to win, you need people who consistently give high effort.

2. High IQ

By IQ, Coach Yeng does not mean genius-level intelligence. What he emphasizes is good decision-making. Players who make smart decisions give are a boon to their coaches and teammates. Mistakes are normal, but the key is to learn from them and avoid repeating them.

This applies to everyday life as well. When you constantly surround yourself with people who make poor decisions, their thinking can eventually influence yours. That’s why it’s important to be around people who challenge you to grow, who think clearly and help guide the team toward success.

3. Willingness to improve

Coach Yeng believes skills can be developed and improved.

As a player, or as a professional, continuous learning is essential. Those who stop improving eventually fall behind. He also stresses the importance of identifying early when someone is not developing their skills, as this could become a problem for the team later on.

In work, basketball and life, the reality is simple: if you are not improving, you are falling behind. Winning organizations understand this and make the difficult decisions necessary to keep moving forward.

4. Solid character

Coach Yeng describes this as players who show leadership, are trustworthy, reliable and willing to play for the team instead of just for themselves.

These are also the same qualities that most employers look for in their employees, as well as what you need to look for in a friend.

Although mentioned last, having a solid character might actually be the most important trait. When you surround yourself with people who have integrity, discipline and a team-first mindset, success becomes much easier to build.

In a world where honesty and accountability can sometimes feel rare, having people you can truly trust is a valuable asset.

Talent often goes to the biggest organizations

“We don’t look for talent”

Coach Yeng understands the reality of independent teams in the PBA. Their resources cannot always compete with large corporate teams that can attract top talents through bigger contracts.

Instead of focusing purely on talent, he prioritizes effort, IQ, skills and character.

This philosophy also applies to smaller organizations and startups. You may not always attract the most talented individuals, but you can still build a strong and competitive team by focusing on the qualities that truly matter.

What’s next

In this series, I had the rare opportunity to speak with four of the most influential coaches of Gilas Pilipinas. Each one offered a different perspective not only on basketball but also on leadership, pressure and building winning teams.

Coach Yeng Guiao reminded us that passion may keep the fire alive, but balance, discipline, and surrounding yourself with the right people are the keys to sustaining success over.

In Part 2, we shift to another strong and polarizing figure in Philippine basketball — Chot Reyes. 

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About the author: Pow Salud is the founder of Powcast Sports. He is a respected sports analyst, commentator and podcaster who blends sharp analysis with authentic storytelling. Driven by truth and purpose, he uses sports and social media as a platform to inspire, uplift, and remind people that no matter the odds, giving up is never an option.