Jun B names Uichico RP coach vice Jacobs

The Philippine preparation for the Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea late this year will resume in the next few days as PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino announced yesterday the appointment of Jong Uichico as Ron Jacobs’ replacement as coach of the RP team.

Bernardino refused to say who were the other coaches he considered for the job. But a reliable source said the commissioner convinced Uichico to take it with practically all the team owners and even other coaches batted for the San Miguel mentor.

Actually, the job had been offered to Uichico as early as two weeks ago but he declined, apparently feeling he’s not ready to perform the task.

Bernardino said he’ll present Uichico to the media at 2 p.m. today in the PBA office inside the Ultra Complex in Pasig.

But in a phone interview with The Star, Uichico has bared some of his plans, including little revisions on the program put up by Jacobs for the team.

"Actually, I’m still thinking about it. Pero malamang I’ll adopt the program," said Uichico. "I’ll also think about who will be the people I’ll tap to help me in the national team."

In his absence at San Miguel, assistant coaches Art dela Cruz and Siot Tanquingcen were tapped to call the shots for the Beermen.

Meanwhile, Bernardino emphasized that the choice of Uichico is the choice of the PBA, thus, the Asian Games participation is a PBA undertaking and not by a single PBA team. — Nelson Beltran