Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Yeng Guiao during a game vs Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings within the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Coach Yeng Guiao didn’t take kindly to the best way Alfrancis Chua was griping concerning the officiating in the course of the course of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
For his part, Chua urged Guiao to deal with coaching.
Their verbal exchange immediately after the match and in interviews with journalists overshadowed the drama of Game 4 on Wednesday night, when Rain or Shine ran away early and held on for a 97-85 victory over Barangay Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Guiao and Chua, two of the league’s influential—and fiery—figures, got into it verbally in the course of the first quarter before exchanging more words at the tip of the competition, witnessed by a vacation crowd of 14,000 on the Big Dome.
“As a governor, it’s not his job to maintain talking to the referees in that way,” Guiao said. “Our governor (Mamerto Mondragon) never did that.”
Guiao called out Chua in the primary quarter, when the latter was arguing his case with one among the referees, prompting the primary verbal spat. Guiao later claimed that Chua hurled some alternative words at him.
Barangay Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao exchange words at the tip of Game 4 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Chua later confronted Guiao as the ultimate buzzer sounded, prompting players and coaches from each teams to intervene.
“I feel like, when it comes to demeanor and ethics, in the event that they can control their emotions, they need to just leave that to their coaching staff, to the players,” Guiao said. “Then from afar, he called me [a derogatory term], and I feel there have been numerous witnesses.
“[And after the game], I assumed he was going to shake my hand. And he asked me if I had any problems. I just told him to avoid talking to the referees.”
The Ginebra official and PBA vice chair spoke briefly afterwards, expressing frustration over the incident with Guiao. Interestingly, each are key fixtures of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines.
“I don’t meddle along with his team, but he meddles with our team,” said Chua. “He even meddles with the governors. He should just deal with his work, he should just deal with coaching.”
The incident left two key performances as an afterthought, with Guiao getting key contributions from rookies Joshua David and Christian Manaytay within the victory that squared the entertaining series at 2-2.
Guiao placed David within the starting lineup, and he responded with eight points in 18 minutes, while Manaytay got here off the bench to place up 11 points and three rebounds also in 18 minutes.
The 2 helped Rain or Shine produce a lead of 26, leaving Ginebra to play catch-up the remainder of the best way.
Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson were the few vivid spots for the Gin Kings with 27 and 20 points.
Jaylen Johnson led Rain or Shine with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Gian Mamuyac scored 12 to steer six players in double figures.