Nenad Vucinic open to working with Gilas again after exit from SBP, says Panlilio

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio said Nenad Vucinic is open to working with Gilas Pilipinas again after leaving the federation to pursue other commitments.

Panlilio said he spoke to the Serbian-Kiwi mentor before he left yesterday, sharing that he expressed his interest of working with SBP again if an opportunity arises in the future.

"I've nothing to say about Nenad but all praises. He's been a very good coach, a good person," Panlilio told reporters following the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup Finals press conference on Friday.

"I just spoke to him yesterday before he left and it's good to hear from him directly but we had a really good conversation. He did say that if there's any opportunity in the future that we can still work together, he's looking forward to that."

"He just has some commitments now."

Vucinic joined Gilas early this year to first serve as a consultant before he was given the coaching job during the nationals' two friendly matches in South Korea in June and again in the third window of the World Cup Qualifiers.

"Obviously, it's always a work in progress. He was part of the process where he was coaching also in the friendlies and the third window. He loves all the Gilas players for sure," added Panlilio.

Asked if they will find a replacement for Vucinic, Panlilio said they will try to work with  what they have. Currently, the Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff is composed of head coach Chot Reyes alongside Tim Cone, Goldwin Monteverde, and Josh Reyes.

"Well, we have a lot of coaches. Tim Cone is part of it now, Goldwin also is part of it but Goldwin is I think training UP so he won't be able to join us," shared Panlilio.

"We have enough coaches naman that are there. Coach Jong Uichico has been a strong pillar of the coaching commission of the SBP, he's still around. So Chot is getting a lot of help."

—JMB, GMA News