Yeng Guiao bets on depth, hopes to strike gold in Rain or Shine’s 8-man rookie class

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao has never shied away from taking chances on unheralded talents, and the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft was no different as the Elasto Painters stockpiled eight new prospects in hopes of unearthing their next big steal.

With two first-round picks and three more in the second round, Guiao and his staff leaned heavily on depth rather than star power, selecting UST forward Christian Manaytay at No. 10 and Jun Roque at No. 12 to kick things off. In Round 2, the Elasto Painters went on a Letran-heavy run by taking Mark Omega (20th) and Deo Cuajao (22nd), before adding La Salle’s Joshua David to complete their flurry of picks.

The later rounds saw Rain or Shine take more chances, securing 3×3 standout Cole Micek, UE guard Kyle Tolentino, and former JRU playmaker MJ Dela Virgen to round out their class.

For Guiao, the massive haul wasn’t about chasing instant stars but about giving opportunities to players who may still have room to grow under his system.

“We just wanted to take advantage of the situation,” Guiao explained. “Meron kaming dalawang first round, meron kaming tatlong second round.”

“Sa tingin ko, wala tayo ‘yung mga superstars na ready-made, na magkakaroon ng immediate impact. Pero I feel the potential of these guys is on the high side,” added the multi-titled coach, who personally oversaw the Draft Combine last September 4–5. 

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

#WATCH: Yeng Guiao hopes he’s uncovered gems in his #PBADraft picks, led by Christian Manaytay and the Letran trio

@justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBADraft pic.twitter.com/sb0Rz80x1X

— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 7, 2025

The veteran tactician also emphasized that sometimes the best finds come from unexpected places, recalling how past unheralded names blossomed into reliable PBA contributors.

“‘Yung difference nung early picks doon sa late picks, hindi ganun kalaki eh. Parang tsambahan lang din ‘to. Baka meron kang makita riyan na magiging Jhonard Clarito o magiging Adrian Nocum, ‘no,” Guiao said.

With limited roster slots up for grabs, Guiao knows not everyone will make the cut, but he’s eager to see who can rise to the challenge.

“We would like to see how they will fare in our practices. There are very few slots available sa team namin pero titingnan din natin, because ‘di mo alam kung you might get surprised by any of these guys,” he noted.

For Rain or Shine, the focus now shifts from drafting to development—a process Guiao has mastered through the years. If history is any indication, one of these rookies could very well be the next diamond in the rough.

Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

Follow our Facebook page today and join the community of passionate basketball fans.