Last weekend, first-year National University Bulldogs head coach Jamike Jarin was granted a brief moment of clarity — a time where he could assess the what-if’s and where he is at this point in his career.
Prior to the Bulldogs’ final game of the season, Jarin had been sitting at the patron section of the SMART-Araneta Coliseum, watching the San Beda Red Lions defeat the Lyceum Pirates in Game One of the NCAA Season 93 Finals.
“I’m just so happy that they finally won against LPU. They lost both games diba? I was there as an alumnus, as a fan. I’m just so proud of them. I hope they win on Thursday but it’s going to be tough,” shared Jarin, who spent two seasons with the Red Lions.
Just over a year ago, Jarin steered the Red Lions to the top of the collegiate world, capping his redemption season with a dominant sweep of the Arellano Chiefs. However, during the off-season, the amiable mentor went off on his own, moving from Mendiola to Sampaloc and becoming the Bulldogs’ chief tactician.
Not only did Jarin leave the Red Lion, he also relinquished his role as assistant coach to the Meralco Bolts. For the first time in his stellar coaching career, he was no longer under the umbrella of Manny V. Pangilinan’s group. He was on his own.
“Well, I always say that this was a double-edged sword. Every time you leave a program, you feel happy. I can’t say that I’m happier now because it’s sad that I left San Beda,” Jarin reflected.
“But we’re still family, Ateneo, San Beda, Meralco, it’s family.”
Twenty-four hours after watching San Beda, it was the NU’s turn to take center stage. The result did not favor the Bulldogs, however, as they were romped by the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to finish in sixth place this season.
For the first time in his career, Jarin — a proven winner in the UAAP Juniors division and the NCAA — missed the post-season.
Upon realizing this, Jarin was lost for words.
“Actually, I never thought about that. Yung question, always went to the Final Four, Finals? I just do my job eh: Be a coach for two-and-a-half hours, then be a friend, be a brother, be a father to these young men,” said Jarin as he tried to gather his thoughts.
“But of course, everytime you lose it hurts.
“But you always… Yung tagal ko as a coach, when you lose, before I’d be very down. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sad, of course,” the multi-time champion mentor added, “but you have to lok at the bigger picture. I think there are better things to be happy than to be sad. Yung samahan niyo sa team? Hindi lang kayo naka-advance pero meron maganda parin. It’s always the journey. The journey was great, ‘di ba?”
“So we just have to keep on moving ‘di ba? Continue and hopefully, finally, yung ma-reach namin na journey, it’s gonna be sooner than later.”
In just over a year, Jarin has not only endeared himself to this batch of Bulldogs, but also to his peers. In his first year in the UAAP, he has proven that he belongs.
Come next year, the pressure will be on for him to deliver, as the honeymoon is over. But Jarin is confident that he can finally steer the Bulldogs back to the Final Four as his recruits come barging in.
“We’ve got some good talent coming in. You know who’s going residency with us, Shane Menina, Sean Ildefonso, diba they’re doing their residency. John Lloyd Clemente will be eligible for college also, Josh Sinclair will be coming back from his injury,” said Jarin, “Enzo Joson will be starting games and will be performing also with Jonas Tibayan, those are the only thing that makes you really excited about: the talent that’s coming in. These are the guys who will be ready coming Season 81.
“For me, even if though we finished in the same situation like last year, I really feel that we’re making progress. Hopefully come next year, I’m not rookie in NU, we’ll make a bigger noise coming into Season 81, especially we are the hosts.”
Safe to say, the risk was definitely worth it for Jarin.
“I’m just happy.”
