SBP Special Assistant to President Ryan Gregorio bared that they are still in deliberation to name who could be the program’s full-time tactician. 

“It is something that is being deliberated,” Gregorio told The Chasedown on Saturday.

Back in 2019, Gilas Pilipinas saw Yeng Guiao as head coach but later resigned from the position following a winless campaign in the FIBA World Cup in China, in which the team ended dead last among 32 teams. 

Then, Tim Cone, who is the PBA’s most accomplished mentor with 23 titles, manned the PBA-backed Nationals en route to the gold in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila.

Before the spark of the pandemic, TNT active consultant Mark Dickel, a protegé of Gilas program director Tab Baldwin, mentored a ‘hybrid’ team in the Asia Cup Qualifiers’ first window in February 2020 which saw the team dominating the Indonesians, 100-70. 

Later on, Gilas saw the return of Jong Uichico who mentored an all-cadet crew for the following window that orchestrated the team to its impressive two victories against Thailand. 

Moreover, Uichico will likely remain as the Filipino dribblers’ head coach for both the Qualifiers’ Clark window and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade.

Meanwhile, several foreign coaches have expressed their interest in handling the Gilas Pilipinas squad which includes Angola national team head coach Will Voigt, and former Australia Boomers chief bench mediator Andrej Lemanis.

But for Gregorio, there is no rush in naming yet for the program’s potential full-time mentor. 

“We don’t have to give a definite answer. But of course, we know that it is running — our system is running. We know exactly the direction, we know exactly the kind of manpower necessary for us to compete at a high level,” coach-turned-executive averred.

“At pagdating ng tamang panahon, we will tell you exactly who the next coach will be,” he added.