He could not remember the exact date or season he was last involved in a championship series, but Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico said it must have been about four or five years ago when he was still with Ginebra.
From Ginebra, Jong moved to Meralco as team consultant for three years before he was assigned to the Talk ‘N Text bench to act as deputy to Norman Black.
Uichico admits the last four years have been relatively stress-free.
“It’s been more than four years since I was in this situation I am in now, that’s why I feel a bit uncomfortable. Hindi naman kinakabahan, naninibago lang,” Uichico said. “I’m not nervous, I just feel I’m in a strange new territory although I’ve been here before.”
Between Uichico and his adversary in this championship series, Yeng Guiao, there seems to be an absence of animosity probably because the two had been classmates in high school at the La Salle Green Hills.
Uichico pursued his college education in the same school, suiting up for the Green Archers, while Guiao moved to University of the Philippines where he suited up for the Maroons in the UAAP.
Guiao said his team is extremely lucky it is facing the Tropang Texters at a time when it is undergoing a period of transition due to the loss of Jimmy Alapag.
Guiao considers the Texters invincible, but the loss of Alapag, he said, caused a chink in the armor, albeit temporarily.
His plan is to take advantage of this period of adjustment.
Both PBA chair Pato Gregorio and commissioner Chito Salud look to this best-of-seven series between Talk ‘N Text and Rain or Shine as another classic between two teams that love to shoot, with almost identical output and accuracy.
* * *
Surfed the internet for some background information on this guy, Mark Fischer, an unknown candidate for PBA Commissioner in the short list of six submitted by head hunter Rey Canilao recently.
When his name was registered with the correct spelling, a video of the UFC was shown onscreen with the caption Asia managing director. That’s all.
But I was correct. PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial confirmed that the man is a candidate of the headhunter who invited him for an interview.
He said the board is meeting Thursday this week to discuss timetables and evaluate the qualifications of the six candidates.
Marcial said it is still possible that the board may pick a commissioner from outside the short list of six.
Except for one candidate, a colleague said he is not at all impressed with the names in the short list, especially one whose IQ he said is way below the normal that if you shake his head, you’ll hear a rattling noise.