Multi-titled coach Jong Uichico: A legacy of giving back

A nine-time champion in the PBA and a two-time Coach of the Year, Jong Uichico revealed that he never dreamt of becoming a coach-- but it has always been his dream to give back.

 “I was mentored by late American legendary coach Ron Jacobs from my playing days to my coaching days that is where I guide myself through his work ethic but honestly I never wanted to coach, I just wanted to play. I never wanted to make basketball as a profession, I just enjoy the game,” he said.
 “But if you believe in destiny or everything has a reason, it somehow brings me back to basketball. There are so many things try to stay away from the game but it just brings me back to the game. So I rescind to the fact that long time ago this is already my calling because no matter how I avoid getting immersed into the game, there is a path that brings me to basketball. This my calling and that’s God’s destiny for me,” the veteran basketball coach said.

As the head coach of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Coachers Academy, spearheading the coaches’ clinic in the 16 regions in the country, Uichico said it becomes a rewarding endeavour for him because he was able to improve the coaching profession not only in the city but also in the provinces.

“It becomes a rewarding endeavour considering the fact that the bottom line is we are able to really help the coaching profession in the province because of course in Manila, we are already overexposed to basketball here, so kulang lang talaga sa provinces ang exposure nila in terms of knowledge enhancement, improvement in their craft in their chosen endeavour,” he said.

“Because in the province, hindi naman sila full time eh, they are part time working and coaching at the same time so if we can help increase their knowledge of the game, and that’s already rewarding for me,” Uichico said.

The veteran basketball coach bared that he also encountered some challenges in the clinic such as some coaches in the provinces are not sold into the fundamentals of the game.

“It is very challenging in any other sport that we really start in the fundamentals or basics of the game whichever sport you are in. The challenge I’ve been having is some coaches have not been exposed to the fundamentals of the game and they find it boring, it’s really boring but it is a necessity in order for the players to improve but we are making the coaches understand that,” he said.

“Coaches and players in the provinces have the talent but when they come to Manila the talent level becomes the same and some make it and some don’t because they don’t have the fundamentals of the game and we are advanced here in Manila so we are giving the opportunity for the coaches to teach their player so that the player comes to Manila would be able to get a scholarship,” Uichico said.

The champion coach shared that a little appreciation from the coaches in the far flung areas go a long way to keep him from continuing his advocacy.

“Masaya lang naman ako when the coaches’ clinic say that they learned something in the two day clinic. That’s already an accomplishment that makes you feel good that you were able to help in a little way, sharing your knowledge to the coaches in the province,” he said.

“Of course, the clinics are concentrated In Manila, it’s a lot of help for them.  If we go to them instead of them coming to Manila. A little appreciation from the coaches will really go a long way, like saying thank you,” he added.

Aside from improving the men’s basketball, Uichico said in cooperation with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, they are also planning to increase the level of awareness for women’s basketball in the country after he saw the team play and won in the 2019 Southeast Asian games. He vowed that he will lead women’s basketball clinics as well as coaches’ clinic.

“I saw them play and then eventually, they won last year so the potential for women’s basketball here is very good and since if they consistently work in the Southeast Asian games and the next level they can aim is the Asian games and Asian games is a different level already that’s what I want to try to do naman try to elevate the women’s game so that they can compete in the Asian games,” he said.

“Volleyball was also nowhere before but look at where volleyball now. Basketball winning in the Southeast Asian games medyo may awareness na ng konti na merong women’s basketball. This coming summit, we are inviting women’s basketball coach to address the coaching level in the Philippines,” he added.

The most important lesson that he also imparts to his coaching clinics is that aside from teaching the X and O’s of a basketball game, he was also teaching them the game of life.

“Aside from the X and O’s, I teach them the values especially how they should treat their players and how they should present themselves on and off the court, how to deal with losses and wins that they may win today and lose tomorrow, don’t think that you are know it all those values that make the coaching profession professionalized one,” he said.

“I also wanted them to remember that we are not just one coaches, there are other things involved such as teaching the kids the right discipline, respect, integrity that they can also bring after their playing days and that is the job of the coach especially in the grassroots, aside from teaching them the game, we should teach them the game of life,” he added.

Photo by Erma R. Edera