By REYNALD MAGALLON
Caelan Tiongson is getting more comfortable to head coach Yeng Guiao system in his second year with Rain or Shine and that has become evident in the recent performances of the versatile forward.
The 33-year-old cager had an auspicious start to the PBA 50th Season, firing 23 points – a fitting followup to his career-high 30 points in the Elasto Painters’ last game in the last Philippine Cup.
Tiongson, though, isn’t putting much meaning into it, stressing that his recent performances were simply a product of him getting used to his role on the Elasto Painters offense.
“I think it’s just familiarity. I think last year, the coach yelled at me the most last year when I didn’t shoot the ball. So, throughout the year, it was an adjustment for me to realize what he’s looking for,” said Tiongson after ROS opened the conference with a 96-95 overtime win over Meralco.
“And now that I have a better understanding of it, I think I’m just playing more free, more confident,” he added.
Tiongson even hit a clutch four-pointer which opened the doors on Gabe Norwood’s game-tying tip-in to send the game to an extra period. He, however, is giving the credit to Guiao for giving him the confidence to take that shot when needed.
“He gives me a lot of free reign and confidence. So, when I catch the ball, one of the things he told me in my first conference I played for him is the mentality you should have when you catch the ball on the three-point line if you’re dead. You’re dead,” said Tiongson.
“So, when I catch the ball, it’s a little bit delusional sometimes. But I think every shot I shoot right now is going to go in. So, that’s all there was to it,” he added.
Guiao stressed that he has no qualms if any of his players take that shot as long as it was within the system they are practicing.
“We drill that every day. He drills that every day. He knows when he’s taking his shot, a good shot, and he knows when he’s taking a bad shot. And I don’t want him not taking those good shots,” said the veteran coach.
“It’s okay for him to miss if it’s a good shot. I just keep telling my guys that. When you’re open, you’re in rhythm, you’re practicing your three-point shot every day. When it happens and it comes to you in the game, you have to take it,” he added.
