WELCOME back, Jong Uichico.
NLEX named the champion mentor as its new coach for the incoming Season 49 of the PBA.
The Road Warriors management made the announcement on Friday, while likewise thanking former coach Frankie Lim for the time he served with the organization.
"We are grateful to coach Frankie Lim for his dedication to the Road Warriors, and we thank him for his contributions," said NLEX Governor Ronald Dulatre in a statement.
"We also thank coach Jong Uichico for taking on this new challenge to lead the Road Warriors as we start our preparations for the upcoming PBA season."
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In four conferences with NLEX after replacing Yeng Guiao, Lim compiled a record of 22-29, twice missing the playoffs.
Lim steered the Road Warriors to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Philippine Cup, but was swept by the Meralco Bolts in their best-of-three series.
Uichico, 61, joined NLEX as part of its coaching staff during the season-opening Commissioner's Cup.
"The NLEX Road Warriors are excited to take this new journey with coach Jong Uichico. He brings a wealth of experience to the squad and a clear idea of what it takes to win a championship as the fourth-winningest coach in PBA history," said NLEX Corporation President and General Manager Luigi Bautista.
Uichico owns nine PBA championship, the last of which came in the 2015 Commissioner's Cup when he was still with the TNT Tropang Giga. He previously steered San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra to separate championships in the league.
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He also holds a position as head of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Coaches Academy and a long-time member of the Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff.
Uichico was part of the Gilas coaching crew that won the golds in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia and 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. (RG)
