Just as Gilas have done over this cycle, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will try out a new head coach for this window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Consultant Nenad Vucinic will be elevated to head coach of the men’s national 5-on-5 basketball team for the third window set to take place in Auckland, New Zealand and Pasay City.
Gilas team manager Butch Antonio confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times.
“Coach Nenad will be the coach handling Gilas this window,” said Antonio, adding that Jong Uichico will still be part of the staff.
This has been the practice of Coach Tab Baldwin when he was the program director from 2020-21.
Mark Dickel was the head coach of Gilas during the first window of the Asia Cup Qualifiers while Uichico took charge during the Manama window.
Baldwin stepped up to the plate for the final window of the Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament-Belgrade.
Meanwhile, Chot Reyes handled the team in the Araneta window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
Besides facing the Tall Blacks and India on June 30 and July 3 respectively, Gilas will also play a two-game friendly series with South Korea from June 17-18.
Familiar is the 57-year-old Vucinic with New Zealand as he was the head coach of the team from 2006-14.
Invited to the Gilas pool for this window are holdovers Angelo Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, SJ Belangel, RJ Abarrientos, Carl Tamayo, William Navarro, Justine Baltazar, Lebron Lopez, Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos, and Geo Chiu.
New boys are Rhenz Abando, Kevin Quiambao, James Spencer, and Sherwin Concepcion.
