Alapag, Uichico, Devance complete coaching staff for SEA Games

By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Familiar names were hand-picked by coach Tim Cone to complete his coaching staff in the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball.

Current assistant coach for the San Miguel Beermen and the former head coach of the Alab Pilipinas who won the championship in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), Jimmy Alapag headlines the group.

Former Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach and 2002 Philippine national team head coach in the Asian Games Jong Uichico was also hand-picked by Cone.

Completing the coaching staff is Ginebra player Joe Devance, who shared his illustrious PBA career with Cone since joining him with the Alaska Aces, was put in the coaching staff despite being a player.

Cone said he put Alapag in the coaching staff because of his stint in the ABL, he said Alapag knows the style of play of most Asian teams and is no stranger with the environment

For Uichico, it’s simply because he is a tested and proven veteran coach, with numerous international stints under his belt.

Devance, although in the active list of players, is still injured allowing Cone to engage his services in helping the guys in the roster mesh well with the system they are going to implement.

The Philippine national team will most likely be challenged by Indonesia led by Denzel Bowles, a familiar face to Pinoy hoop fans having served as an import in the PBA.