Jong Uichico takes over for injured Frankie Lim in NLEX win
At A Glance
- NLEX assistant coach Jong Uichico made a winning return to PBA coaching after he stepped into the shoes of injured head coach Frankie Lim and steered the Road Warriors to a tight 103-97 victory over Blackwater Bossing.
NLEX assistant coach Jong Uichico made a winning return to PBA coaching after he stepped into the shoes of injured head coach Frankie Lim and steered the Road Warriors to a tight 103-97 victory over Blackwater Bossing.

Albeit only in a cameo role, the game marked the first time for Uichico to be actively coaching from the sidelines since 2016 when he was still the head coach of TNT.
The nine-time PBA champion, who just recently joined the Road Warriors coaching staff, had to take over for Lim after he sustained a finger injury that prevented him from attending Friday's matchup against the Bossing.
According to another NLEX assistant Borgie Hermida, who attended the post-game press conference on behalf of Lim, the Road Warriors head tactician sustained the injury the day prior after getting hit by a ball in practice.
“Coach Frankie got injured yesterday natamaan siya ng bola sa thumb ata, medyo unbearable daw yung pain so di siya nakapunta,” said Hermida.
“Credit still to coach Frankie because he prepared us going into this game lahat naman ng game plan kay coach Frankie,” he added.
Hermida also tipped his hat off to Uichico who despite being only with the team for three good months, can already run Lim’s system and control the minutes of the players.
“Also credit to (the one) who stood up as head coach today which is coach Jong.Alam naman natin na one of the best coaches in the league si coach Jong. Any time naman ready ito,” Hermida said of the seasoned coach
“In fact he’s been with us for just three month, December pa pero kung makikita niyo very familiar na siya sa mga plays kung paano tinatakbo and also sa players kung paano maglaro,” he added.
Uichico actually only made his PBA comeback when he joined NLEX coaching staff after he was replaced by Nash Racela as TNT head coach in 2016. He was out of the league since then but spent the last five years as a full-time assistant coach with Gilas Pilipinas.