The NLEX Road Warriors rolled to their third straight win against erstwhile undefeated pacesetter Blackwater in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, March 13.
Wondering why assistant coach Jong Uichico called the shots for NLEX in its 103-97 win over Blackwater in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, March 13?
It turned out that Road Warriors chief tactician Frankie Lim injured his finger during the team's practice.
“I think he just injured his hand sa practice. Tinamaan kasi ng bola 'yun so medyo super sakit kaya hindi siya nakapunta ngayon,” Uichico told reporters after NLEX pocketed its third win in four games at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“Pero 'pag naayos 'yun, mahaba naman 'yung break, he should be back by Monday. So, may kaunting break naman kasi matagal naman. So, we’ll all be back on Monday for practice.”
The nine-time PBA champion coach admitted feeling a little jittery being at the helm for the first time in a while.
Good thing, Lim already prepared the game plan on both ends of the floor and Uichico and the rest of the Road Warriors coaching staff just followed it to the letter.
“It is difficult, yes. It’s been a long time since I felt this way going to the game. All coaches, head coaches, feel something on the way to the game, before the game, especially na this morning ko lang nalaman. So medyo rush rush 'yung preparation as a head coach,” said Uichico, whose last head coaching gig in the league was with the TNT franchise from 2014 to 2016.
“But mabuti naman, we have able and capable assistant coaches that’s in charge of the offense, in charge of the defense ‘cause I don’t know all the plays, I just know kung ano 'yung game plan ni coach Frankie, so we just followed the game plan of coach Frankie on both ends of the floor.”
He added: “Tinulungan na rin naman ako ng mga coaches. I just managed the game by timeouts, and I talked to the players on what they’re doing wrong or not. 'Yun lang.”
Lim will have plenty of time to recover from his injury as NLEX will have a little more than three weeks of break prior to seeing action anew against last conference's finalist Magnolia on April 6.