Meralco’s elimination from the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday also meant the last day of Nenad Vucinic for the Bolts and the Gilas Pilipinas program.
And he left with no extra baggage, heading home to New Zealand with praises from Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio.
“I have nothing to say about Nenad but all praises,” said Panlilio on Friday.
The amiable executive shared to the media that on Thursday, he and the Serbian-Kiwi tactician had a good talk before the latter left.
And it was a productive conversation, to say the least.
The two talked about the possibility of the country’s national team program and Vucinic working together again some other time.
“We had a good conversation. We did say that if there’s any opportunity in the future that we can still work together. We’re looking forward to that,” said Panlilio.
“He just has some commitments that he wants to go after now. But as I said, he said he is willing to come back anytime in the future.”
Vucinic served as Gilas head coach in the third window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
In his short stint as the main man on the sidelines, the national team went 1-1 in the window, while dropping both their tuneup games against South Korea.
And to close it, Panlilio still ended up with praises for the former Meralco consultant.
“Great person, a great, great man, very principled man.”
