It was a tad ironic that one of San Miguel’s former coaches played a part in the traditional powerhouse’s demise in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
The Beermen’s kingship of the mid-season conference came to a crushing end no thanks to Jong Uichico and NLEX as the playoff chasers kicked them out of the race following a rout of Hong Kong Eastern Wednesday evening.
However, that’s the least of the 62-year-old’s concerns. All he really cares about are the opportunities for his team to advance.
“Wala,” he said with a chuckle when asked about the irony moments after their 94-76 win at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. “You know, I’ll always be glad to have a chance to get to the next round. How we get there, bahala na.”
(C) PBA Images
For the uninitiated, Uichico began and spent over half a decade of his coaching career with San Miguel, giving the franchise six of its 29 championships.
He did win titles manning the helm of Ginebra and then with TNT later on. But it’s with the Beermen, no doubt, where he’s most remembered by fans — especially for steering a team headed by two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso.
That’s why some found it interesting that Uichico had a hand in his former team’s ouster in the mid-season tilt, which had been a rough ride for a team in the process of building a new identity with fresh faces in tow.
But then, none of that crossed the mind of the former player turned mentor, who began coaching in the PBA as an assistant to the late Ron Jacobs.
“Basta, I like that opportunity that we can always get to the next round,” he said.
“If it’s outright, fine; if it’s playoff, ‘pag knockout, then, sige na.”
Uichico is just glad that NLEX gave itself another shot to go to the next round after falling to a precarious spot early. The team went 3-6 before regaining its act together and winning three in a row to end its elimination round campaign.
“Earlier, two weeks ago, we were on the brink of elimination, pero ngayon, may tsansa kami. So we’ll take this,” the nine-time champion bench tactician said.
