MONTALBAN – Jong Uichico has been in coaching for so long now that he hardly feels any insecurity about himself.
That outlook made the transition from head coach to senior deputy to new NLEX mentor Jimmy Alapag quite easy to accept.
READ NLEX goes 2-0 under Alapag after surviving giant Terrafirma scare
Asked by SPIN.ph if there’s any hurt feelings on his part following what can be considered a demotion on his part, the soft-spoken coach answered in the negative.
“Wala naman, ako pa,” said the nine-time champion coach with a smile on his face. “Thankful ako, blessing naman na nandito pa rin ako. So what is there to feel bad about, di ba?”
Uichico was with Gilas Pilipinas on the road for the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers when the coaching change was announced by NLEX management.
But he did admit there was already prior notice to him about the transition.
“Naging upfront naman sa akin si Boss Ronald (Dulatre, the NLEX team governor) na si Jimmy will be taking my place bago pa ako umalis for the FIBA window,” said the 63-year-old coach.
Of course, Uichico has long known Alapag and they previously worked together at TNT and later, with Gilas Pilipinas.
“Sa Gilas, sa TNT. Tapos sa SEA Games assistant coach ko siya, 2017 if I’m not mistaken,” he recalled. “Tapos umikot na. Ngayon, siya na ang head coach, ako na ang assistant. Umikot lang ang mundo.”
But having only a small window between his return from the FIBA qualifiers and the time to sit down together and discuss things with Alapag, Uichico said he hasn’t really bonded again with the former PBA MVP turned coach.
“Feeling out period pa lang dito. Kasi pagdating namin (from Gilas), game planning na kami agad,” said Uichico.
Uichico was happier seeing Alapag come back home and getting the chance and opportunity to coach in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.
“I’m happy for Jimmy. Madali naman siyang katrabaho. And I’m looking forward to ano yung maitutulong ko sa kanya,” he said.
So far, the Road Warriors are off to a 2-0 start under Alapag after a 101-100 escape act against Terrafirma on Sunday.
“Nananalo, so siyempre masaya,” said Uichico. “Tulung-tulong lang. Kung ano ang kaya mong mai-contribute (sa team).”
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