CHICAGO - Frankie Lim pacified rumors that he is on his way out as head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors.
"I'm driving on my way to practice right now," Lim told me in a telephone interview this morning. "I have a contract that goes beyond August," the 64-year old former PBA guard added.
Speculation on Lim's exit crept last March 13 when he was absent from the sidelines in the Road Warriors' 103-97 win over Blackwater at the Philsports Arena.
COLUMN: Frankie Lim deals with hazards of coaching job
Although the team officially attributed the no-show to injury, the innocuous right hand sprain quickly turned malicious when Lim did not sit on the bench to root for his team.
A couple of head coaches who spoke to SPIN.ph also found it weird that a sprain could completely hinder a coach from dispensing his duties, noting that assistant coach Jong Uichico only got the notice of his pinch-hit assignment on the morning of game day.
The fog of confusion evoked ugly memories of the Leo Austria-Jorge Gallent coaching saga that rocked San Miguel Beer last January 2023.
Given the coaching carousel that has characterized the two other MVP Group teams - Chot Reyes replacing Jolas at TNT and Norman Black ousted at Meralco - the plot only thickened.
IN THE END, IT WAS JUST SMOKE AND NO FIRE.
"Masakit eh," Lim said of the errant wrist, which made him decide to just rest at home, secure in the knowledge that Uichico, a nine-time champion coach will marshall the troops to victory.
"(That's why) I called him (Jong) that morning (and told him I couldn't go)," Lim explained.
After he cleared the smog of gossip that hung over his tenure, Lim shared some of the secrets that have propelled the Road Warriors to a 4-1 start.
"It's simple. Walang tamad sa team namin. Everybody works hard. They come early and leave the gym late during practice. Kusa nila ginagawa yun," Lim said of their players' commitment.
With an 80 percent winning clip in the ongoing Philippine Cup, Lim made it clear that he alone couldn't have pulled this off.
He credited Uichico and his other assistants - Borgie Hermida, Adonis Tierra, Emman Monfort, Jorge Simon and his son, Melo Lim - for being diligent in their shared responsibilities.
TOUGH ROAD AHEAD.
As they relish these prosperous times, Uichico warns of the rougher seas that lie ahead.
"The test will come when we start playing after the Holy Week," he said, obviously referencing their April 6 date with Magnolia followed by an April 13 tussle versus TNT..
But the way they're clicking right now, NLEX stands to measure up against the league's heavyweights.
Who knew? NLEX is currently the most stable and, and least for now, the more successful team among the MVP flock.
Abandoned by Mikey Williams and transitioning from Jolas to coach Chot Reyes, the Tropang Giga are 2-2 in the standings.
Meralco, meanwhile, is still shell-shocked from the departure of coach Black and are stuck at 1-3 as the Bolts navigate the outdated active consultant-head coach set-up.
No such troubles at NLEX.
Thanks to Frankie LIm and his merry band of assistant coaches and ego-less players.
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