Uichico overcomes ‘rust’ and ‘jitters’ for 9th PBA title

Talk ‘N Text head coach Jong Uichico FILE PHOTO

Jong Uichico had to wait seven years, seven games, and two overtimes for his ninth title.

And he did it while almost becoming a nervous wreck.

“It’s the same, you’re nervous before the game, happy when you win, and devastated when you lose,” Uichico said after his Talk N’ Text beat Rain or Shine 121-119 to take the 2025 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

If Uichico was to be believed, he was nervous seven times, happy four times, and devastated three times.

Yet it was the fourth time that was the charm for him.

His last title as a head coach was way back in 2008 as he led Ginebra to the Fiesta Cup title.

That was the last title of Ginebra.

Uichico said he has accumulated the rust over the years when he wasn’t a head coach.

He was an assistant for four years before becoming a head coach again.

“Actually I didn’t know what to do when Rain or Shine was hitting those threes,” Uichico said.

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