When Rain or Shine traded forward Joe Devance for firebrand guard Sol Mercado in the 2008 Rookie Draft, team owner Raymond Yu and former coach Caloy Garcia envisioned a fast-paced, entertaining brand of basketball.

For two seasons, the partnership of Mercado and bosom buddy Gabe Norwood did provide the entertainment for the Elasto Painters, but it wasn't enough to carry the team all the way.

Yeng Guiao, the newly-installed Rain or Shine coach, has a different approach to winning games. Playing the fancy footloose style isn't acceptable for him. The fiery, multi-titled mentor is known for instilling toughness and a hard-nosed style of play, a stark contrast from Rain or Shine's brand of game over the previous years.

Given blanket authority by management to build the team, Guiao's first priority was to get players who are comfortable playing for him and understand his system.

This was explained by Yu to GMANews.TV on the heels of the blockbuster trade that saw Mercado and Jay-R Reyes, Rain or Shine's former marquee players, being shipped to other teams.

"It has nothing to do with the past issue between Sol and coach Yeng," said Yu, referring to a verbal altercation between the two when Guiao was still coaching the Air21 Express.

"But it's more of getting players who know the coach's system, in order to quickly establish chemistry. Coach Yeng is our general, and as a general, he should be the one who will pick the kind of soldiers he needs every time we go to war."

Guiao will be reunited with his previous wards Ronjay Buenafe, Ronnie Matias and Beau Belga, who were part of the three-team, multi-player trade deal that transpired Thursday night.

The five-time champion coach said that these three players will help fast-track the jelling process of his new squad.

"Once isinalpak mo sila dyan, alam na kaagad nila 'yung gagawin nila. The second conference is a short tournament. With only nine games in the elimination round, it's a must for every team to win six of nine games, otherwise, medyo may problema na yung campaign mo," said Guiao in a telephone interview.

The former all-pro national team coach added that the trade that saw Mercado going to Meralco and Reyes heading to Air21 was the best thing for everybody.

"In fairness to Sol, he was working hard in practice and nakita ko naman na magaling talaga. But he seemed aloof and uncomfortable," said Guiao. "We didn't have time to bond with each other and the situation was very fragile."

"We were thinking of giving each other a chance, but again, instead of making it a distraction, we tried to work out a solution that would be best for everyone. So we tried to deal with Sol's issue with a more conservative approach. We don't want na hintayin namin na may mangyari pa, so we acted at a time while he's still more marketable and has a good image."

Guiao also added that with Mercado out, Norwood will have a better chance of showing his true potential.

"I felt that when Sol was still around, Gabe was languishing in his buddy's shadow," said Guiao. "Medyo may pagka-dominante kasi si Sol. I believe Gabe will be more assertive this time, and will have a better chance of showing his all-around skills. He will be the leader of this team."

Rey Joble, GMA News TV