When Pido Jarencio finally made his much-awaited return to University of Santo Tomas, the school faithful expected that it would be the start of the turnaround of the struggling Growling Tigers men’s basketball program.
However, disappointment soon loomed as UST lagged in the standings of the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
To bring home some good memories, the Growling Tigers closed out their campaign with a 57-53 win over Far Eastern University on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
That win allowed UST to finish the season with a 2-12 record, with both wins coming at the expense of the Tamaraws. It was a one-win improvement from its Season 85 1-13 performance.
However, Jarencio was the first to admit that it was still a disappointing result for the Growling Tigers and for that, he willingly took all the blame but also vowed a better team come next season.
“Disappointing season for us. Dalawa lang yung pinanalo. I take full responsibility. I disappointed the UST community, humihingi ako ng pasensya sa kanila but for sure we’ll be better next year with our recruits nandiyan na,” said Jarencio, the last coach who brought UST to the peak of UAAP basketball in 2006.
“I just take full responsibility sa lahat ng nangyari the losses and everything, disappointment and everything. Sa community pasensya na, yung mga bashers ko I love you all, yun lang bahala na ang Diyos sa inyo,” he added.
(c) Varsity Lifestyle Co
Waiting in the wings for UST are transferees Forthsky Padrigao and Kyle Paranada, as well as foreign student-athlete Peter Osang and one-and-done Chase Lane among others.
Jarencio, however, could not help but also lament how he lost one of his players during the tournament.
The fiery coach did not name the player he was referring to but it can be remembered that big man Adama Faye played just two games due to a nagging back injury. He later went back home to Senegal.
“My only regret is coming to the season, may anak akong hindi nagsabi ng totoo, pagdating ng dulo iniwan kami at itong 15 players na naiwan sa akin, wala akong masasabi sa kanila. Ginagawa nila yung lahat para manalo ang UST but we fell short,” said Jarencio.
“Basta ang regret ko lang is may isa akong anak na iniwan ako. Yun lang medyo sumama lang loob ko, hindi lang nagsabi ng totoo sa akin,” he continued.
“Hindi, ayoko nang magsabi basta alam niyo naman yan eh, we all have 16 players, 15 lang yung naglaro sa amin edi alam niyo na kung sino yun di ba? Ayoko ng sabihin just to be fair with him. Basta hindi siya naging fair sa akin for the team kaya kawawa itong mga boys ko pero lumaban naman ito eh, lumaban nang parehas, for sure we’ll be better next year with our recruits and more preparation.”
Aside from Faye, Vince Ventulan was the only player who played his last game for UST, but Jarencio bared how loaded his team next year is gonna be, saying that there will be plenty of roster changes.
“Simple lang, maraming mawawala, maraming papasok. They have to prove themselves in training, everything lahat. May mga tournaments kaming sasalihan. Dati, hindi kami naexpose, ngayon mageexpose kami.”
