Uichico eyed to call shot for Llamados

HONG KONG – B-Meg, whose campaign in the past PBA season was hampered by injuries to key players, is changing its head coach instead with former Barangay Ginebra coach Jong Uichico topping the short list of candidates.

Sources within the San Miguel Group of Companies disclosed that Jorge Gallent will be replaced soon with Petron assistant coach Gee Abanilla and Richard del Rosario, one of Gallent’s assistants at B-Meg also being eyed for the post.

But Uichico appears to have the inside track.

“B-MEG has a go-go system and Jong is a well-respected coach with eight PBA titles,” said an insider who requested anonymity.

“Jong is also known for asserting his personality to a team, so he can put order in said team.”

While Gallent didn’t do bad in his one-season tenure with the team, the same source added that SMC feels B-MEG will have better chances in the upcoming season with a new coach.

“With Jong, B-MEG will probably become at least a title-contender again,” the source said.

SMC basketball operations head Robert Non, who is Ginebra’s representative to the PBA Board currently here for its annual planning session, didn’t discount the possibility of Uichico becoming head coach again after Siot Tanquingcen took over the head coaching job in the Kings camp.

No less than SMC president and COO Ramon Ang announced the appointment of Tanquingcen as head coach of the league’s most popular team this coming 37th PBA season.

“Pag-aaralan lahat iyan before we can make a recommendation to (SMC president and COO) Mr. Ramon Ang,” said Non.

Since being named San Miguel Beer coach in 1999, Uichico has won a total of eight PBA titles, the last two of which came with Ginebra which he started coaching in 2006.