Comparing Villegas to Saldaña

NOT many coaches is willing to take the risk on a player who has been sidelined by multiple knee operations, but coach Yeng Guiao and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are more than willing to make that gamble on Luis Villegas. Villegas, a 6-foot-7 product of University of the East, was the team’s third overall pick in 2023 and the Elasto Painters patiently waited for him to recuperate. Back then, he was expected to return after being sidelined for months following an ACL injury he suffered while playing for the Red Warriors yet Rain or Shine waited longer than expected.  “When we drafted Luis Villegas, we thought he was well on his way to recovery. We knew there was a risk, but we expected him to come back sooner. Instead, he would try to play and have a problem again,” said Guiao. Of course, management was having apprehensions which was normal. You don’t want to pay for something that is feared to be damaged goods, but Guiao and the bosses of Rain or Shine were patient enough to see Villegas recover and get better. “We kept waiting, and eventually we had to seek a second opinion. The assessment was that he needed another reconstruction,” added Guiao. Suffering serious...