In his five-year UAAP career, J-jay Alejandro has seen more ups than downs. In his second year alone, Alejandro and the National University Bulldogs helped end the school’s 60-year championship drought in men’s basketball back in 2014.
When asked about his fondest memories in the UAAP, he surprisingly considers Season 80 — his graduating year — as the most memorable one, and it’s all because of Coach Jamike Jarin — the coach that he only spent one year with, but whom he already sees as his father and his friend.
“Yung last year ko with coach Jamike, yun talaga sa akin ang best memory ko,” Alejandro shared after finishing the season with averages of 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists.
“Pinaka-special dun ay nagkaroon ako ng opportunity na maglaro for coach Jamike, alam naman natin na multi-titled yan si coach. High school, college, UAAP, NCAA, even PBA diba?
“Ang pinaka-masarap sa feeling dun, pinagbigyan niya ako na maging captain ball pa with Matt Salem,” the 22-year-old confessed.
Aside from being taught by a genius basketball mentor, a large part of his love for his coach is because of the relationship they nurtured off the court.
“Parang father figure siya sa amin. Mas marami pa yung kwentuhan na hindi about sa basketball. Every night magtetext ako sa kanya, magte-text siya ng random sa akin. Kahit di kami magkasama nag-uusap kami. Extra special yun para sa akin,” the 22-year-old shared.
“Kay coach Jamike kasi, para kaming love-hate relationship. Kahit magalit ng magalit siya sa iyo, kahit sigaw-sigawan ka niya, alam mong mahal ka niya.”
Jarin, a coach known for harboring very close relationships with his student, couldn’t help but express his admiration to Alejandro after the game.
He shouted, “I love you J-jay!” while the point-guard was being interviewed by members of media, to which Jjay replied “I love you, Coach!”
It is this very kind of relationship that makes Alejandro feel regretful that he had only one year with Jarin in NU.
“Sayang na ngayon lang kami nagsama,” he said, “pero may mga chance pa naman na maybe sa pro or sa semi-pro, magsama kami.”
The Bulldogs exited Season 80 with an identical slate from last season, 5-9, after falling to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, Saturday afternoon, 106-81. Their season may have come to an end, but the captain believes that with this experience, the younger Bulldogs will be stronger next year.
“Sabi ko lang sa kanila na experience niyo muna yung pain today kasi darating at darating yan,” he said after his last game as a Bulldog.
“Hopefully na natuto sila, na may experience sila na next year di na mangyayari ‘to. ‘Yun ang challenge ko sa kanila.”
After a solid five-year UAAP career, Alejandro looks forward to the next chapter of his life as an athlete.
“Papahinga muna ako, bakasyon, and have time with my family. Siguro after that papa-draft ako sa [PBA] D-League this coming season.”
A loss may not be an exit fit for a king, but the King Bulldog keeps his head high and has great hopes for the future of the National University.
