With the coaching staff of the first window either inside the PBA Bubble or abroad, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas needed to look for an interim head coach for Gilas for the second window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers next month.
And SBP Special Assistant to the President Ryan Gregorio and Gilas Men’s Program Director Tab Baldwin did not need to look far.
Jong Uichico has been the common name between Gregorio and Baldwin to coach the Nationals when they take on South Korea and Thailand on November 27 and 30.
“If there is one name that we both agreed on, Coach Tab and myself, together with the hierarchy of the SBP, it’s Coach Jong,” Gregorio said on SportsPage.
“With his experience, he should be part of the coaching staff [at the very least].”
Manpower has been the problem of Gilas in preparation for the second window.
Besides the players, interim head coach Mark Dickel of TNT, assistant coach Topex Robinson of Phoenix, assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga of TNT, and even team manager Gabby Cui are all inside the PBA bubble.
Alex Compton, on the other hand, returned to the States during the quarantine.
Only Baldwin is left in Manila.
For his part, Uichico has been active with the Coaches Academy as they teach mentors from the provinces through e-learning.
Uichico is no stranger to the national team, having been head coach of the team in the 2002 Asian Games and 2017 SEA Games. He was also part of Chot Reyes and Tim Cone.
“Remember in our last window? We had coach Mark Dickel represent us as the head coach together with his coaching staff, but right now because of the conflict [he’s not available],” said Gregorio.
“And for that reason, we’re looking at guys who are not part of the bubble, and that staff who might be able to help us in the coming window.”
