Nenad Vucinic listed as Meralco's consultant for PBA Season 47

Nenad Vucinic has been added to Meralco's coaching staff. FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY—Nenad Vucinic's role in Philippine basketball might go beyond just helping Gilas Pilipinas.

As revealed on Monday, the Serbian-Kiwi coach has been named to Meralco's coaching staff for the upcoming PBA season beginning on Sunday.

In a copy of the official rosters for the PBA Philippine Cup obtained by Dugout Philippines during the preseason press conference on Monday at the Conrad Manila Ballroom, Vucinic is listed as the Bolts' coaching consultant.

It remains unclear about the specifics of Vucinic's role under Head Coach Norman Black, although in recent memory, foreign coaches named as consultants have been actually doing the head coaching chores rather than the one officially listed as "head coach" owing to a Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines ruling not allowing foreign coaches to lead a team.

Black, a former PBA import who later went to coaching upon his playing retirement, is an exemption to the rule because he is married to a Filipina.

Interestingly enough, Vucinic was part of Chot Reyes' coaching staff during Gilas' stint in the Southeast Asian Games but the latter did not name the former to his own coaching staff at TNT.

Combo guards Chris Newsome and Aaron Black, swingmen Bong Quinto and Allein Maliksi, towering center Raymond Almazan, and ageless veteran Reynel Hugnatan will once again lead the charge for the Bolts.

Also activated for Meralco's PBA Philippine Cup campaign are Chris Banchero, Toto Jose, Cliff Hodge, Mac Belo, Franky Johnson, Anjo Caram, Alvin Pasaol, Nonoy Baclao, and Kyle Pascual, which the team got from free agency.

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