MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine’s PBA Governors’ Cup debut game saw youngsters Caelan Tiongson and Felix Lemetti impressing YENG Guiao right away.

In the Elasto Painters’ 110-97 victory over Blackwater Bossing on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the team’s two first-round selections immediately made an impact.

Tiongson and Lemetti each scored fifteen and eleven points, respectively, to finish in double figures.

Naturally, as the season-opening conference goes on, Guiao sees a lot of upsides on both the Fil-foreign players.

The Rain or Shine coach was happy that they decided to take a risk on Felix, who was selected seventh overall in the most recent selection. Before Felix applied for the draft, the team didn’t know much about him at first. But after watching him during a few workouts, they realized he had talent and chose to take a calculated chance by choosing him as their first-round pick.

The squad’s choice was confirmed by the coach, who mentioned that the team was impressed with what they saw throughout those workouts. Felix showed traits during practice that the coaching team thought would be a good fit for competitive play. Thus far, the team’s risk of taking a chance on a young player has paid off, as they are happy and confident in their selection. The coach underlined that, in spite of the initial doubt, choosing Felix has turned out to be a regretless choice.

In essence, the situation is the same for Tiongson, 32, who was chosen by Rain or Shine subsequent to Lemetti.

Though Caelan Tiongson, a 6-foot-5 wingman out of Biola University, was a bit of a gamble for the club, coach Yeng Guiao thought back on the selection. Even with Tiongson’s track record and proven skills, there was a great deal of uncertainty over his selection, mostly because of his two-year break from the NBA. After his time with Alab Pilipinas, Tiongson declared his retirement, leaving the competitive arena for a considerable amount of time. Many questioned his draft prospects because of his absence from the court, which cast doubt on his fitness and current form.

After a two-year hiatus, Tiongson made his professional basketball comeback with the Taoyuan Leopards of the Taiwan T1 League. This comeback was evidence of his rekindled love for the game and his ambition to once more compete at a top level. But his unexpected dip in the draft was probably influenced by his recent retirement, even though he clearly had talent and experience. Tiongson was ultimately taken eighth overall, after initially being predicted to be an early pick. His selection position dropped, probably due to doubts about his preparedness to play in the elite leagues again after such a long break.

Although Guiao acknowledged these worries, he clarified that the team chose to take a chance on Tiongson because they saw his potential, even in spite of the difficulties associated with coming out of retirement. Despite the risks involved, the choice to draft Tiongson has turned out to be a wise one. Since joining the squad, he has performed above and beyond expectations, displaying the abilities and basketball IQ that made him a standout player prior to his retirement. Tiongson is rapidly developing into a vital member of the team, therefore it appears that the gamble paid off.

This hypothetical situation emphasizes the fine line clubs must walk when assessing potential, particularly when it comes to athletes who have taken a break from the game. Although Tiongson’s break played a big role in his draft position, his smooth transition back into the squad emphasizes how important it is to look past a player’s short-term performance and consider their long-term potential. Coach Guiao’s readiness to take a calculated chance with Tiongson shows that he has faith in the player’s capacity to overcome setbacks and make a significant contribution to the group’s accomplishments.

It is impressive how resilient and determined Tiongson was to go from retirement to having an impact on the league, and it speaks well of the team’s scouting and decision-making procedures. Tiongson’s narrative serves as motivation and a reminder that, occasionally, it’s important to take a chance on a player who has something to prove as he works to regain his form and find his rhythm.