JONG Uichico has been tapped to coach the men’s basketball team to the Southeast Asian Games in Burma (Myanmar) and the champion mentor has been given very clear goal.
“The marching order given to us by our bosses is clear: Win the gold medal,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios. “Our president Mr. (Manny) Pangilinan told us that either we win the gold or we stay in Myanmar.”
Barrios revealed that Uichico’s assistants are FEU coach Nash Racela and Josh Reyes.
Uichico, winner of eight championships in the PBA, was part of the Gilas coaching staff that placed second in the Fiba Asia Championship along with Racela and Reyes.
With a pool reinforced by Gilas players, he steered the national team to the gold in last year’s Southeast Asian Basketball Association.
“He’s a team consultant in the PBA and we considered that,” said Barrios. “We want somebody who can dedicate his time in the build up for the SEA Games.”
Gilas cadet players Garvo Lanete, Kevin Alas, Jake Pascual, Ronald Pascual, RR Garcia and Matt Ganuelas will form the core of the team to the biennial meet on Dec. 11 to 22.
Meanwhile, the women’s basketball team, Perlas Pilipinas, got the nod of the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission task force in the SEA Games.
The under-23 men’s football team, however, failed to pass the criteria set by the task force, according to chief of mission Jeff Tamayo.