MANILA, Philippines – Players from Team North in the 2016 PBA All-Star Game are looking forward not just to playing with each other in the highly anticipated showcase, but also to playing for fiery Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

Guiao has been tapped as the coach of the North team, which will feature Mark Caguioa of Ginebra, Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort, Marc Pingris of Star, Japeth Aguilar of Ginebra, and Calvin Abueva of Alaska as the starters.

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"Alam naman natin si Coach Yeng," Romeo said. "Gusto niya lagi manalo 'yung team niya, so kung ano ang ipapagawa ni Coach Yeng, gagawin namin."

"Siyempre, andoon 'yung respeto namin kay Coach Yeng," he added. "Sobrang dami nang napatunayan ni Coach Yeng as a coach. Ilang beses na siyang nag-champion, kaya kung ano ang gusto niyang ipagawa sa amin, susunod lang kami sa kanya."

For Pingris, having Guiao as a coach – even for simply the All-Star Game – is a dream come true.

"Sa totoo lang, walang biro, ito 'yung pangarap ko na natupad. Gusto ko siyang maging coach dati," said Pingris. "Natupad talaga. 'Di ko akalain na s'ya ang coach."

"I'm looking forward to it," said Aguilar, for his part. "He's a good coach and he brought his team to a championship."

Guiao's championship pedigree has earned him the respect of the players from the North team, but it doesn't mean that they don't remember some of their on-court encounters with the sharp-tongued Rain or Shine mentor.

"Pero on the court lang naman 'yun," said Romeo. "Lahat naman nangyayari on the court. Lahat, possible na mangyari. Kahit kaibigan mo, hindi mo maiiwasan na minsan, maka-tirahan mo. Pero off the court, tapos na 'yun, wala na 'yun."

"So ganoon rin ako kay Coach Yeng," he explained. "On the court, kung kailangang na ganoon, ganoon 'yung competitiveness namin. Pero off the court, siyempre, respeto ako sa kanya, at respeto kami lahat sa kanya."

The All-Star Game is scheduled for August 7 at the Araneta Coliseum. Guiao and the North All Stars will face off against the South All Stars, composed of Star's James Yap, the Ginebra trio of Scottie Thompson, Greg Slaughter and Joe Devance, and San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo.

Leo Austria of San Miguel will coach the South All Stars.

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