After nearly six years apart, Yeng Guiao and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are together again.
Guiao left the PBA franchise in October 2016 after winning two championships to take on the head coaching position with NLEX Road Warriors.
But last week, with his contract set to expire, the fiery coach and NLEX team management reportedly failed to come to terms on an extension, prompting a "mutual parting of ways".
This paved the way for a Rain or Shine reunion that had been speculated on for several days but finally became a reality on Monday.
How did we get here? Here's a timeline of events starting from Guiao's first stint with the Elasto Painters.
Jan. 10, 2011: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters announce the hiring of Yeng Guiao as head coach, ten days after his contract with the now-defunct Air21 Express expired. Guiao replaces Caloy Garcia, who slides down to lead assistant. Guiao pilots the Elasto Painters to a 4-5 record in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, where they are eliminated in the quarterfinals by Barangay Ginebra.
Aug. 5, 2012: The Elasto Painters defeat B-Meg Llamados (now Magnolia Hotshots), 83-76, in Game 7 of the Governors' Cup Finals for the first PBA title in franchise history.
Dec. 10, 2012: Guiao is named PBA Coach of the Year by the PBA Press Corps. It is the second time he has won the award.
May 18, 2016: The Elasto Painters win their second PBA crown after beating the Alaska Aces in six games in the Commissioner's Cup finals.
Sep. 21, 2016: The Elasto Painters lose to Phoenix Fuel Masters, 105-94, in a playoff for the 8th quarterfinal slot to officially end their 2015-16 season.
Oct. 5, 2016: NLEX Road Warriors announce that Guiao is their new head coach, replacing Boyet Fernandez. The team finishes 12th and last in Guiao's first two conferences, the Philippine Cup and Commissioner's Cup, before making the quarterfinals in the season-ending Governors' Cup.
Oct. 29, 2017: The Road Warriors draft Kiefer Ravena, a player that Guiao has long eyed, with the second overall pick in the 2017 rookie draft. Later that season, they reach the semifinals of the Philippine Cup, marking the first time the team advances past the quarterfinals.
July 25, 2018: Guiao is appointed head coach of the Philippine men's basketball team to the Asian Games in Jakarta. The team is composed mostly of his former players from Rain or Shine and finishes fifth.
Dec. 28, 2018: NLEX acquires Poy Erram, who played for Guiao at the Asian Games, for rookie draftees Paul Desiderio and Abu Tratter.
Feb. 28, 2020: Erram is traded to TNT in a three-team deal that lands NLEX role players Anthony Semerad and Rabeh Al-Hussaini and two draft picks. This after Guiao went on the record to say he was opposed to trading his star center.
March 11, 2021: The Road Warriors trade the No. 4 pick in the Season 46 Rookie Draft to sister team TNT Tropang Giga, who use it to select Mikey Williams. Guiao had previously said he was looking forward to picking Williams with the fourth pick. After the trade, Guiao admitted he was surprised that management had decided to trade away the pick.
June 2, 2021: Shiga Lakestars of the Japan B.League announce they have signed Kiefer Ravena to a professional contract to be their Asian quota player, just nine months after Ravena signed a three-year extension with NLEX and three months after Guiao first revealed that the star guard had approached him about an offer to play in Japan. Guiao had expressed doubt that Ravena would be able to get out of his contract. After several discussions with NLEX management and the PBA board, the Road Warriors finally release Ravena to the Lakestars three months later on the condition that he would return next season. The PBA also fines NLEX an undisclosed amount for allowing Ravena to sign a contract with a non-PBA team.
May 2022: Ravena returns to the Philippines and announces he wishes to sign a one-conference deal with NLEX before returning to Japan. The Road Warriors insist on a one-season deal. A stalemate ensues and Ravena does not play a single game for the team in the Philippine Cup.
July 31, 2022: The Road Warriors lose to Magnolia Hotshots in overtime, 112-106, in the third and deciding game of their Philippine Cup quarterfinal series to bow out of contention.
Aug. 8, 2022: Ravena re-signs with the Lakestars for the 2022-23 B.League season, killing all chances of a return to NLEX for the current PBA season. Guiao says the team can now move on from Ravena.
Sep. 2, 2022: Guiao and NLEX agree to mutually part ways after failing to agree to terms on a new contract.
Sep. 3-4, 2022: Guiao and Rain or Shine ownership and management engage in discussions about a possible reunion, a source confirms to ESPN.
Sep. 5, 2022: The Elasto Painters announce that Guiao would be returning as head coach of the team. Guiao calls it "a homecoming."