“This victory is for the coming generation”: Yeng Guiao dedicates PSA Award to athletes 

Veteran coach and former lawmaker Yeng Guiao added another milestone to his storied career—this time off the hardwood—after becoming the first non-athlete to receive the prestigious President’s Award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) during its Annual Awards Night on Monday, February 16, at the Diamond Hotel.

Known to many as the fiery former head coach of Gilas Pilipinas and current bench tactician of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Guiao was recognized not for his achievements on the sidelines, but for his decade-long legal battle that resulted in a landmark victory for Philippine sports.

In 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Guiao’s petition, ordering the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to remit five percent of their gross income to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in accordance with Republic Act 6847. The decision effectively unlocked billions of pesos in funding for the PSC—resources that are expected to significantly bolster infrastructure projects, grassroots programs, and athlete development nationwide.

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For Guiao, the recognition capped a long and arduous journey that began in 2016 when he, along with legal counsels Jun Guzman and Mon Navarro, filed a judicial remedy seeking to nullify a memorandum issued during the administration of former President Fidel Ramos. The memorandum had prevented the full allocation of funds to the PSC as mandated by law.

Taking the stage alongside his legal team, the 66-year-old Guiao reflected on the magnitude of the gamble he took in challenging powerful government agencies and risking political fallout.

“So sumuntok po tayo sa buwan. Pero paminsan minsan tatamaan niyo yung buwan. And that’s really what happened here. Sino ba si Yeng Guiao to go to the Supreme Court and ask the Supreme Court to take away billions of funds from the office of the President? It was political suicide. Pag nagalit si presidente patay ka,” Guiao said on receiving the award.

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao to receive the President’s Award in tonight’s PSA Awards | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/g2xg6IPekQ

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 16, 2026

His words underscored the risk involved in confronting institutions that controlled vast financial resources. Yet Guiao maintained that the cause was bigger than politics.

“But maybe somebody had to commit political suicide so that Philippine sports can breathe some fresh air. From my estimate, so Chairman Pato, the commissioners of the Philippine Sports Commission, the sports federations, the Philippine Olympic Committee, our athletes, our youth, our regular countrymen will benefit from around, if I’m not mistaken, a total of 37 billion peso in accumulated funds.

“And if I’m not mistaken, from 180 million a month to most likely closer to 500 million a month for Philippine sports,” he added.

If projections hold, the Supreme Court ruling could nearly triple the PSC’s monthly funding—an infusion that sports leaders believe will transform training facilities, expand grassroots programs, and provide sustained support to national athletes competing on the world stage.

Guiao emphasized that the victory was never about personal recognition, but about securing long-term gains for future generations of Filipino athletes. He expressed hope that the additional funding would pave the way for more international success stories similar to Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz, rising tennis star Alex Eala, and world-class pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

“So nagwagi po tayo. This victory is a victory for athletes of the coming generation. It’s a victory for our sports leaders. It’s a victory for our countrymen in general. So sana po dumami pa ang mga Carlos Yulo. Dumami pa ang mga Hidilyn Diaz. Dumami pa ang mga Alex Eala, mga EJ Obiena. And I will be happy and satisfied that we have had a small part in that,” Guiao concluded.

For the PSA, the decision to bestow its highest honor on a non-athlete highlighted the broader ecosystem that fuels sporting success. While athletes claim medals and coaches draw up winning plays, systemic change—particularly in funding and governance—often determines the sustainability of a nation’s sports program.

In Guiao’s case, the battle was fought not on the court but in the halls of justice. And in winning it, he may have secured a legacy that extends far beyond basketball—one measured not in championships, but in opportunity.

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