ALFREDO “Pido” Jarencio steered the UST Growling Tigers to a UAAP championship in his rookie year in 2006, six Final Four appearances and a Philippine Collegiate Champions League title in his eight-year at the helm, and it’s time for him to pass on the torch.
Now appointed as the head coach of Globalport in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Jarencio hopes the next mentor could cherish the alma mater like he did.
“Sa susunod na coach, alagaan lang lang niya ang pangalan ng UST. Mahalin ang eskwelahan at ang community,” Jarencio told the Varsitarian during Globalport’s practice session at the Moro Lorenzo Gym in Ateneo de Manila University.
Even without star player Jeric Teng, Jarencio said the current Tigers should continue persevering—just as he taught them—even if the UAAP title has eluded them twice in a row.
“For the team, meron akong iniwang legacy na dapat ituluy-tuloy nila. Walang bagay na nakukuha nang madali at lahat pinaghihirapan,” he said.
Road to the pros
The former Growling Tiger and Barangay Ginebra King came back as coach in 2006. UST, hitherto led by Reonel Parado, had missed the Final Four in the last three seasons.
The Tigers finished the Season 69 elimination round with a 6-6 win-loss record and went on to complete their Cinderella run, taking the title via a 76-74 upset of powerhouse Ateneo in Game 3. It was the Tigers’ 18th championship, their last one since the 1996 crown under coach Aric del Rosario.
It wasn’t all glory, though. Jarencio and the Tigers finished Season 73 at seventh place with a measly 4-10 win-loss tally.
The following season was deja vu as Jarencio carried the Tigers back to the Final Four with an 8-6 slate and with Ateneo as their semi-final nemesis, but the Blue Eagles edged UST this time.
The tireless Tigers repeated the same scenario six years ago—a championship duel against Ateneo in Season 75, but Norman Black and the Eagles did not let the same result happen as they swept UST in the best-of-three series.
News of Jarencio joining Barako Bull in the PBA then started coming out, but the animated mentor decided to stay in UST.
It seemed the best decision he has made as the Tigers eliminated five-time champion Ateneo before humbling top-seeded National University twice in the Final Four en route to another shot at the championship against De La Salle University. UST took Game 1, but lost Games 2 and 3 for the second straight Finals heartbreak, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Jarencio.
Mentor to rising stars
He is not only attaining his goal of coaching in the pros, but is also joining his former players who are starting to make their mark in the PBA, thanks to him.
“One of the lessons I learned from him is the never-say-die attitude. Habang nabubuhay ka, laban ka lang nang laban. Yung pag-fail mo, it’s the first attempt in learning,” said Dylan Ababou, 2009 UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) currently playing for Ginebra.
Jervy Cruz, the 2007 UAAP MVP and a member of the 2006 UST champion team, said he owed a lot to his former mentor.
“Idol ko na siya nung nasa Ginebra pa siya kaya nung napunta siya sa amin, talagang na-encourage ako na pag-igihan pa sa training,” the Rain or Shine forward said.
Other standouts who became popular under Jarencio’s tutelage were Jeric Teng (Rain or Shine), Jeric Fortuna (Barako Bull), Jojo Duncil (Petron Blaze), Japs Cuan and Chris Camus. Hedrix Ar-Ar C. Caballe and Alexis U. Cerado
