UST HEAD coach Pido Jarencio admitted having opening day jitters in his UAAP return as the Tigers absorbed an 80-70 loss to host team UE Red Warriors in the Season 86 men’s basketball opener at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
It has been a decade since Jarencio, head coach of UST’s 2006 championship team, called the shots at the collegiate level.
“Ngayon, medyo may opening (day) jitters,” he said postgame. “Ako nga, ninenerbyos kanina, pero masaya ang college basketball.”
He also took the fall for the Tigers’ poor performance in their first game.
“‘Yung talong ito, akin lahat ito,” he said. “Huwag na ‘yung mga bata, ako na lang, kaya ko i-handle ‘yon pero ‘yung mga bata hindi natin alam. Basta ito, lose and lose sa akin, win and win para sa kanila ‘yon.”
The Tigers showed glimpses in some parts of the game. They went on a 12-0 run in the first frame to cut UE’s 13-point cushion to one, then after allowing UE to pull away, got competitive in the final minutes of the game to give the Red Warriors a slight scare.
UST’s efficiency was jarring, shooting 33.9 percent from the field and 17.4 percent from deep.
Jarencio said the Tigers will make the necessary adjustments, particularly in lineup shuffling.
“Basta kami, adjustment, adjustment, and adjustment,” he said. “Basta ang usapan, kung sino healthy will play, pag hindi ka healthy, pahinga ka na lang muna…We’ll be ready against Adamson.”
The Tigers will try to secure their first win against the Adamson Soaring Falcons at the same venue on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. with reports from Ernest Martin G. Tuazon
