JONG Uichico isn't one to sleep on opportunities.
That's why he's not closing the doors on the possibility of making his way back to the sidelines, if an opportunity does present itself.
Uichico admitted to Coaches Unfiltered that the coaching itch never really left him and he finds himself pining for that chance from time to time.
"Of course, you miss coaching. You miss the game-planning, you miss the practices, the process on how to build your team. You miss all of those," he said.
Uichico is currently the head of the coaches academy of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), going all over the country to help in the foundation of aspiring mentors while also embracing technology through online webinars due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
His track record also speaks for itself, winning nine PBA crowns across his stops in San Miguel, Ginebra, and Talk 'N Text.
He's also a two-time PBA Coach of the Year and is a veteran of the international game, handling the Gilas Pilipinas teams in the 2013 and 2017 Southeast Asian Games to the gold.
The last time Uichico called the shots in the sidelines was his brief run for the Bataan Risers in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 58-year-old bench tactician is not one to rule out any comebacks. After all, there's really no age limit for coaches as long as they're capable.
And for Uichico, that can only happen if the timing is right.
"If the opportunity comes and if it’s a good opportunity, then why not?," said the protege of the late Ron Jacobs.
But now, Uichico is fairly happy with the task he has been given.
"Dito meron ka ring relevance sa buhay basketball. You can be relevant despite not coaching in the PBA or in any other league," he said.
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