Prior to being the head coach of the storied San Beda College Red Lions, Jamike Jarin had left a legacy over at Loyola Heights.
Jarin was the mentor of the celebrated Ateneo Blue Eaglets program from 2000 to 2014. Under the San Beda alumnus, the Katipunan junior cagers made 12 UAAP Juniors Basketball finals appearances and won eight championships. Moreover, the program has produced countless collegiate stars, including the likes of Jai Reyes, Kiefer Ravena, and Von Pessumal.
Outside of tune-up games between San Beda and Ateneo, Jarin faced the Ateneo Blue Eagles for the first time as the Red Lions’ head coach in the Premier Cup. The Red Lions’ staved-off their old NCAA rivals, 82-73, to lock up the second seed for the next round.
After a tumultuous off-season that saw seven student-athletes disqualified from the Ateneo line-up for failure to meet the school’s academic requirements, the Blue Eagles did not go down without a fight, with former Blue Eaglets Thirdy Ravena and Aaron Black leading the way.
Ravena notched a double-double, with 22 points and ten rebounds, while Black added ten markers, six boards, and three dimes. Three other former Eaglets, the Nieto twins and Jolo Mendoza, went up against their former head coach in the game.
No one was prouder to see the five former Eaglets play in the men’s division other than Jarin himself. “Siyempre, you’re proud that they are playing. You’re happy for them,” Jarin shared.
Mike Nieto only played a minute in the game, having sprained his ankle in the second quarter. Upon hearing that “Big Mike” was all right, Jarin breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course, it’s not the same. You know that they are going to compete,” the Red Lions mentor added.
“They would give out their best and I will also give my best. Alam nila yun because they are very competitive.”
With the quintet having a bigger role with the Blue Eagles after everything that had happened to the team, Jarin knows that they can step up to the mantle. “Best of luck to them,” he wished his former troops.
