YENG GUIAO, one of the more illustrious and colorful coaches in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), won’t be calling the shots anymore for NLEX.
And Matthew Wright would no longer be Phoenix Super LPG’s dynamo guard as he opted to bring his act to the more lucrative Japan B.League.
Guiao parted ways with NLEX, his team for the past five years, and although the temperamental coach shunned calls or didn’t answer messages, BusinessMirror learned that the falling out was a result of both sides not coming to terms on the coach’s contract renewal.
The separation came just weeks before the Commissioners’ Cup opens on September 21, leaving the Road Warriors momentarily orphaned as the 63-year-old Guiao already met his players and bade goodbye.
His camp, however, said that they’ll be releasing an official statement soon.
Guiao owns seven championships in the PBA, his last in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup with Rain or Shine.
Wright, meanwhile, signed with the Kyoto Hanaryz team for the B.League’s 2022-23 season, according to his agent Marvin Espiritu.
He played six years with Phoenix.
“Matthew [Wright] wants another challenge in his basketball career. Before his PBA stint in 2016, everybody knows that he’s already played for various overseas leagues,” Espiritu said.
Wright has stints with the LNB Pro B in France in 2014-15 and Westport Malaysia Dragons in the Asean Basketball League also in 2015.
“That’s the reason why he chose the B.League,” said Espiritu, son of renowned player agent Danny Espirutu.
Wright, who at 6-foot-4 plays multiple-positions from point guard to small forward, will be reunited with his Canadian coach Roy Rana at Kyoto.
“I’m excited to embark on this new journey and looking forward to reuniting with coach Roy Rana,” Wright said. “I’m eager to help take this team to the next level and build a winning culture with the organization.”
“Thank you to all the supporters and I look forward to seeing you at the games,” the Filipino-Canadian said in a statement.
He was picked by Phoenix in a special Gilas draft in 2016 and became the face of the franchise through the years, averaging 15.0 points, 5.9 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals in the Philippine Cup where the Fuel Masters placed 11th with a 3-11 record.
Espiritu said Wright would make himself available if given a call for the national team.
Already playing in the Japan league’s Division I are Kiefer Ravena of Shiga, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. of Nagoya, Thirdy Ravena of San-En NeoPhoenix, Dwight Ramos of Levanga Hokkaido and Justine Baltazar of Hiroshima Dragonflies.
Playing in Division II are Kobe Paras of Altiri Chiba, Jordan Heading of Nagasaki and Greg Slaughter of Fukuoka.
Kyoto finished 19th in the league’s previous season with a 14-43 record.