During the second window of the qualifiers in Manama, Bahrain, Uichico was named as the head coach for the Gilas Pilipinas and steered the all-cadets team to a back-to-back win against Thailand.

Dickel, who served as team consultant for TNT, alongside Phoenix coach Topex Robinson and Tropang Giga assistant Sandy Arespacochaga were all inside the PBA bubble in Clark, Pampanga at the time the qualifiers was held.

In the first window of the FIBA qualifiers in February, Dickel was the head tactician of the all-pro men’s national team routing Indonesia, 100-70.

PBA will still be in the off-season during the third window of the qualifiers leaving uncertainty to Uichico if Dickel will be steering the team again with PBA players beefing up the Gilas pool once again.

“Next year wala pa namang PBA, so there might be a possibility na si coach Mark (Dickel) ulit especially merong plano na magsama na ng PBA (players). So that’s a possibility,” said Uichico.

According to the 58-year-old veteran mentor, he was only tasked to call the shots in the Manama bubble based on his understanding.

“Wala pang sinasabing ganun. Kung tuluy-tuloy ba ako or in what capacity. Everything is up in the air until management makes a decision on that one,” he said.

Gilas project director Tab Baldwin endorsed Uichico to continue manning the sidelines for Gilas Pilipinas, however, the final decision still lies with SBP.