By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Veteran tactician Jong Uichico is back at the post of being a head coach after receiving an appointment to take over the NLEX Road Warriors confirmed on June 7, 2024.
It was the NLEX management that announced their latest PBA off-season personnel reshuffle and marked the official promotion of Uichico from assistant to head coach.
Last December 2023, the Road Warriors tapped Uichico to become their assistant coach. Months later, he is now back at the helm and replaced former mentor Frankie Lim.
“We are grateful to coach Frankie Lim for his dedication to the Road Warriors and we thank him for his contributions,” said NLEX governor Ronald Dulatre.
Uichico’s last assignment as a PBA head coach was in 2016 when he mentored the talented lineup of the TNT Tropang Giga.
After his head coaching job with TNT, Uichico began doing tasks for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and became a lead assistant staff in their coaching pool.
Uichico worked under former Gilas Pilipinas mentor Tab Baldwin during the pandemic and was also present when Chot Reyes took over in the past three years.
With another failed PBA post-season run despite acquiring Robert Bolick who abruptly ended his contract with the Japan B. League, the Road Warriors are now longing to get back to their usual playoff mode.
Under Lim, the team failed to make a deep run in this conference, and Uichico will have another shot at proving himself after getting the head coaching job effective next conference.
“He brings a wealth of experience to the squad and a clear idea of what it takes to win a championship as the fourth-winningest coach in PBA history,” said NLEX corporation president and general manager Luigi Bautista.
