MANILA – Negrense center Raul Soyud will remain with the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season after verbally agreeing to a deal, according to head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao.
In an interview with SPIN Sidelines, Guiao said the Bago City, Negros Occidental-native was one of the three players who agreed to a new deal with the Road Warriors aside from JR Quinahan and Michael Miranda.
“Ang kulang na lang sa tatlo ay pirmahan,” said the 61-year-old Guiao. “We have agreed on the details. Hindi naman mahirap ang negosasyon. Simple lang at sandali lang.”
Soyud, a former STI-West Negros University standout had a solid conference in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup where he averaged 10 points and 6.82 rebounds.
Guiao earlier said he was happy with the development of the Negrense center, who he said was “a product of my temper and my mouth.”
“Walang nakakapansin masyado kay Raul kahit napakaganda ng ginagawa niya. But I think he’s one example of a player who was really relegated to the last or the end of the bench, but worked his ass off to get the playing time that he gets,” Guiao said.
“Actually, tanungin mo ‘yung mga players, I’ve been harsh on Raul,” he added. “I’ve demanded a lot from Raul kasi gusto ko ma-elevate pa niya ‘yung laro niya. I guess umubra na naman ‘yung mga sigaw, mura ko, kaya medyo gumaganda ‘yung laro niya.”
“But he’s really worked hard for it on his own. On his own. Ang layo na ng narating ni Raul, actually. And hindi natin napapansin masyado ‘yung ginagawa niya,” the veteran mentor further said./PN
