A freak accident during practice forced coach Frankie Lim to miss NLEX’s Philippine Cup match against Blackwater at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
Fortunately, Lim got his back covered by Jong Uichicho, one of his assistants, who readily handled the coaching reins and helped steer the Road Warriors to a narrow 103-97 win over erstwhile unbeaten Blackwater Bossing.
“Coach Frankie got injured yesterday (Tuesday), accidentally his thumb got hit by a ball and the pain, he said was unbearable,” said NLEX assistant coach Borgie Hermida, who faced the media during the post-game chat.
Hermida, however, credited Lim for the pre-game preparations, while also thanking Uichico, whose vast PBA coaching experience, he said, was evident during the game.
“Credit also to coach Jong, we know he’s one of the best coaches in the league. Anytime, we know he’s ready,” he said.
“Although he’s just been with us for the last three months, but he’s very familiar with the plays and how the players play.”
Uichico, a nine-time PBA champion coach, last served as a head coach for TNT from 2014 to 2016, steering the Tropang Giga to a championship in the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup.
Hermida took note of the solid leadership Robert Bolick registered all-around numbers of 21 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, while making two crucial triples with under a minute to go to seal the team’s third straight victory.
NLEX improved to 4-1 overall and now heads to a long three-week break.
With two wins away from clinching an outright playoff berth, Bolick said he reminded his teammates not to be complacent.
“We’re closing in to the magic no. 6 (wins), we just need two more,” said Bolick after the game. But we also know things will only get tougher after our long break,” he added in Filipino.
Bolick is referring to the three San Miguel Corporation-owned squads Magnolia, San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra which NLEX will be facing after the break along with sister team TNT, Phoenix and Rain or Shine.
“We know it’s going to be a tough stretch for us, so we need to prepare really hard and everyone needs to step up,” he said.