Joseph "Jong" Uichico

So are we ready to proclaim coach Jong as one of Philippine basketball’s best coaches ever. Jong led the Gin Kings to its 7th PBA crown, his first for Ginebra and seventh overall, becoming the fourth winningest coaches of all-time. Experts are divided though. All his champion teams had superior lineups. On the other hand, not all coaches are capable of meshing personalities of all-stars in one team. He is one of only two coaches in history to lead his team to back-to-back titles in his first year as coach.

Jong frankly admits that if he didn’t come from a family that’s not attached to a basketball team, he probably won’t be in basketball. And that’s because, in his opinion, he is small at 6’l”, and he isn’t really that spectacular inside the hardcourt.

Uichico’s former RP team coach, Ron Jacobs, however, holds a different view. One need not be the best to be in the RP team. Under Ron, there’s always enough room for adjustments, improvements and almost anything directed towards the goal of honing up hardcourt skills.

In Joseph’s words, his biggest asset is intensity. “That’s all,” he says. “I don’t shoot well. I don’t rebound well. I don’t defend well. But I always give a hundred and more percent whenever coach [Ron Jacobs] sends me in. That’s just what he wants me to do. And that’s why I’m with the team.”

Joseph, who was born on July 15, is the fourth in a brood of five (Jacob, Joel, Benjie, Joseph, and Tito) born to Tony Uichico and the former Elena Floro, a sister, of the late Crispa manager Danny Floro. Joseph, known as Jong to friends, started out as a football player during his La Salle grade school days.

“When I was a kid, Crispa was my favorite team. I used to go with my grandfather, Pablo Floro, to watch the basketball games during the MICAA days. I enjoyed watching the games, watching my idols like Rudy Soriano and the rest. The environment made me go to basketball.”

Jong played junior ball for La Salle Greenhills for three years from 1977 to 1980. Then he played college ball for four years also for La Salle. He made his way to the Northern Consolidated squad of basketball patriarch Danding Cojuangco.

“As a child, I dreamt of many things. I wanted to be this. I wanted to be that. That’s natural. But there’s one thing though, I wasn’t planning to be a basketball player. I just wanted to finish college and get a job. I want to sit behind the desk. And I think I’ll do just that.” says Jong who just graduated from La Salle with a degree in Management of Financial Institutions.

After a stint with the famed Northern Consolidated squad, Uichico ended his basketball career early. He coached De la Salle University in the UAAP, leading the school to two runner-up trophies in the mid-90s. He later joined the San Miguel Beer coaching staff during the tenure of ex-San Miguel Beer head coaches Norman Black and Jacobs. Uichico assumed the head coaching post of the Beermen after Jacobs' departure in 1999.

Uichico was appointed by head coach Ron Jacobs as one of his assistants for the RP team which represented the country in the 2002 Asian Games. However, after Jacobs couldn't continue coaching after suffering stroke, Uichico was named as the head coach of the national squad. Uichico guided the team to a fourth-place finish in the event. He was later transferred to Brgy Ginebra on August 2006 after SMC hired Chot Reyes as the new head coach of the San Miguel Beer team.