PBA’s loss is UST’s gain.
The bad news is Pido Jarencio won’t fulfill his dream of coaching his own team in the professional league soon. But the good news is he’s staying with the Growling Tigers in the next UAAP season where they are the clear favorite to bag the title.
No less than legendary UST coach Aric del Rosario is convinced that Jarencio is the best man to steer the Tigers to at least another Finals appearance.
“He’s tried and tested so he should stay on,” the 72-year-old del Rosario, architect of the Tigers’ four-straight titles in the 90s, said in Filipino. “He should just keep trying and he should improve the confidence of the team.”
Del Rosario, who ended a 10-year coaching hiatus to head the University of Perpetual Help Altas last June, said the Tigers remain strong despite the graduation of team captain Jeric Fortuna and forward Carmelo Afuang.
“They’ll still go to the Finals because they only lost two players, but the others have improved. They should just work more on offense, defense, and team work, especially in crucial games.”
Jarencio was in talks to coach his own team in the PBA where he was an assistant at Petron Blaze. But he said his mother squad, San Miguel Corp., kept him from accepting the offer from a rival team.
“San Miguel, my mother team, stopped me,” he said. “They told me not to proceed. Perhaps, they have a plan for me so I didn’t insist anymore.”
Del Rosario said Jarencio’s time would eventually come.
“He could still coach in the PBA. He should just persevere. At least, now, he can still coach [UST],” he said.
Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA), said Jarencio’s appointment as UST head coach was good until March 31.
“He has not divulged any plan to go away, so [he] may be re-hired,” he said in a letter to the Varsitarian, noting that Jarencio had not “submitted any resignation paper” despite reports that he was leaving UST before.
Jarencio insisted he “never left.”
“There were offers that didn’t push, but it’s okay,” said the 48-year-old coach. “At least I’m here with UST, our alma mater.”
Jarencio is still bent on going over the hump, recalling the Tigers’ bitter loss to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Finals last October.
“Of course, we shouldn’t be contented with second [place], right? I hope we could exceed our performance in the 2012 season,” said Jarencio, who later steered UST to the Philippine Collegiate Champions League crown, beating Ateneo and other top collegiate teams around the country.
Jeric Teng, the incoming UST team captain, welcomed the return of Jarecio next season.
“It boosted our moral and confidence,” he said. “We’re used to the system of Coach Pido, especially in the four years that I’ve been with him.”
