In the wake of a painful quarterfinal exit, fans often go hunting for a scapegoat. Following the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ 98–89 loss to the Meralco Bolts—a defeat that erased a twice-to-beat advantage—some social media armchair coaches have set their sights on the vlogs of Santi Santillan, Andrei Caracut, and Eric Nanas.
The narrative? That content creation is a "distraction" costing the team wins. The reality? This is a tired, illogical take that ignores how the modern sports world actually functions.
🌐 The "Modern Pro" Standard
To suggest that vlogging is a detriment to a player's focus is to ignore what is happening at the highest levels of global basketball.
The NBA Example: During the 2020 NBA Bubble, Matisse Thybulle became a global sensation for his vlogs, all while playing elite defense for a playoff-bound 76ers team.
1 Today, stars like Draymond Green and Paul George record full-length podcasts during the playoffs.Success and Content: In the PBA, players from championship-caliber teams are active on social media daily. Winning teams vlog, losing teams vlog. The difference isn't the camera; it's the execution on the hardwood.
Vlogging is simply the modern-day version of a player going to the mall or watching a movie during their downtime. If a player spends two hours editing a video at home after a six-hour training session, that isn't "lost practice time"—it's a hobby.
🧠 Trust the "Iron Fist" of Coach Yeng
If there is one coach in the PBA who would not tolerate a lack of focus, it is Yeng Guiao. Known for his discipline and no-nonsense approach, Guiao is the last person to let "outside noise" seep into his locker room.
"Ako ang unang makakaramdam o unang magsasabi kung parang nawawala na sa focus but hindi pa naman," Guiao told the media.
Guiao’s defense of his players should be the end of the conversation. He sees the "invisible hours"—the early morning weights, the late-night shooting, and the energy levels in practice. If the "Iron Man" of coaching says his players are working hard, then the vlogs are irrelevant to the outcome of the game.
⚖️ Final Verdict: Correlation vs. Causation
The Elasto Painters didn't lose because Santillan or Caracut pressed "record" on their phones. They lost because Chris Newsome played an inspired "Playoff Mode" game, dropping 31 points, and because Meralco found a rhythm that ROS couldn't break.
Attacking a player's off-court personality because of an on-court loss is a "silly" reach. We should celebrate players who are building their personal brands and connecting with fans—not use their creativity as a weapon against them when they hit a shooting slump.
As Coach Yeng said, boundaries are monitored. But for now, let the boys vlog. The foundation of a great era in PBA history shouldn't be built on suppressing the personalities of its stars, but on trusting the basketball minds who lead them.
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