IGINIYA ni coach Jong Uichico ang Bataan Risers sa 75-62 win kontra Biñan City-Krah Heroes, Lunes ng gabi sa MPBL Lakandula Cup sa Alonte Sports Arena sa Biñan City, Laguna.

Si Uichico, nine-time PBA champion coach, ay sumandal sa ball movement at team play ng Risers, kung saan tatlong dating collegiate standouts na sina Joe Presbitero ng San Beda, Anton Asistio ng Ateneo at James Castro ang nagbida sa debut game ng premyadong coach.

Si Presbitero ay nagsumite ng 16 points, seven rebounds, habang si Castro na lumaro sa Bataan, ay nag-ambag ng 14 points, six assists at five rebounds.

Si Asistio na miyembro ng back-to-back champions A­teneo Blue Eagles sa ilalim ni coach Tab Baldwin, ay may 13 points, kasama ang tatlong tres.

Si Uichico, nagwagi ng kampeonato bilang coach ng San Miguel, Ginebra at TNT, ay huling sumalang bilang coach sa 2017 SEA Games kung saan pinangunahan niya ang Gila Cadet-laden national squad sa gold medal finish.

At sa kanyang unang laro sa MPBL, ang veteran bench tactician ay nagsagawa ng ilang adjustments.

“This is something new. There’s not much teaching to do as you have no control of what’s happening at times. It’s a free-flowing game,” lahad ni Uichico. “But I have to adjust. I need to rely on team play, ball movement, hoping we could go through from there as we still don’t have go to guys in the team.”

Ang magandang debut ni Uichico ay nasapawan ang laro ng isa pang debuting coach na si Keith Martin ng Pasay Voyagers, na tumalo naman sa Navotas Clutch-Unipak, 70-68.