REMEMBER Chip “Machine Gun” Engelland?

Engelland, who played alongside PBA greats Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim for Northern Consolidated basketball team in the 80s, is coming back to the Philippines.

Engelland is returning as a member of the coaching staff the United States team of coach Steve Kerr, according to basketball scholar Quinito Henson of Philippine Star.

A prolific shooter during his storied career in the country under the widely-successful NCC program of the late Ambassador Danding Cojuangco, Engelland will join Kerr and assistant coaches Erik Spoelstra, Tyronn Lue and Mark Few ìn Team USA set to play in the FIBA World Cup 2023.

A naturalized Filipino, Engelland will be with Team USA when it arrives in Manila on Aug. 22 , three days before opening tipoff at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

This will be the first time that Engelland, now 62, will be visiting the country.

His last visit to Manila was in 2007 on the late Amb. Cojuangco’s invitation for a reunion with coach Jacobs and his NCC teammates.

Among his former teammates in NCC are Hector Calma, Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Hectir Calma, Jerry Codiñera, Yves Dignadice and Franz and Dindo Pumaren.

Kerr and Team USA managing director Grant Hill were among Engelland’s clients before he joined the coaching staff of the San Antonio Spurs’ in 2005.

Last season, the California-born Engelland signed as an assistant coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In the FIBA World Cup 2023, Engelland is expected to help polish the shooting skills of the 12 American players, who are playing in the World Cup for the first time.

Although the United States has won five of 18 World Cup championships since 1950, the NBA-backed team dropped to seventh place during the 2019 edition.

The Americans, coached by Greg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs and bannered by NBA stars Harrison Barnes, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kris Middleton and Kemba Walker, were bumped off a podium finish by France 89-79 in the quarterfinals and edged by Serbia 94-89 in the 5th to 8th classification before beating Poland, 87-74 for 7th place.

Kerr hopes it’s redemption time in Manila.

The Americans will kick off the group phase against New Zealand on Aug. 26, Greece on Aug.28 and Jordan on Aug. 30, all at 8:40 p.m. at the SM MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Leading the Anericans’ campaign aee reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Josh Hart (New York Knicks), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Cam Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks) and Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers).

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya