Back in the ’90s, Pido Jarencio and Sean Chambers faced off against each other as players, with Jarencio donning the colors of Ginebra and Chambers representing Alaska.
Now, over two decades later, the two have reunited as rivals once more – this time as head coaches of University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University, respectively, in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament.
While their clashes in the PBA were intense, both coaches are now fully focused on securing wins for their teams and helping their players improve with every practice session.
On Saturday, Jarencio drew first blood as the Growling Tigers triumphed over the Tamaraws, 83-72, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Wala, siya lang gumagawa ng storya. Alam mo naman ako – hindi ako maistorya sa buhay,” Jarencio quipped with a grin about the joke Chambers made after FEU’s win over Ateneo the last time out.
“Basta kami we’re competitors. Even during our playing days, talagang competitors kami. Kaya siguro nasabi niya yun dahil sinasama niya rito yun dahil may pinaglalabanan. Pero may high respect ako kay Sean Chambers.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Chambers, for his part, expressed his happiness to share the court with Jarencio once again.
“That was a joke lang,” said the Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach. “I won’t say I’m an alaskador. Hindi ako alaskador. But it’s really about the kids, you know?
“Pido and I had our careers and our legacies. It’s just trying to get our teams better for me.”
With a 4-3 record, UST appears well-positioned to return to the Final Four for the first time since Season 82.
After witnessing his team finish the first round on a high note, Jarencio acknowledged that the Growling Tigers will need to elevate their performance in the second round, as all teams will be vying harder for a spot in the semifinals.
“Alam mo second round, it’s gonna be a different story kasi iba na labanan dun,” said the former NorthPort head coach.
“Lahat mas kampante na, mas prepared na. Basta kami, we’ll keep preparing.”
Conversely, it was back to the drawing board for Chambers and FEU.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Although they are not yet eliminated from Final Four contention, the Tamaraws must improve their current 1-6 record.
After their high from winning against Ateneo, consistency will be key for the remainder of the season.
“I think part of the problem was, when you get your first win, we didn’t relax in practice, but you can tell we didn’t have the same kind of anxiety that we had going into not winning games yet,” Chambers explained.
“I told the guys that I don’t want them to play with anxiety, but you have to manufacture that sense of fear to be successful once you’ve won that first game. You can’t relax. You have to go to the next step.”
No one could have anticipated that this decades-old rivalry would be rekindled in the UAAP.
Clearly, both coaches have moved past their competitive history, as evidenced by their smiles and laughter over past clashes. Now, their focus is on helping their players reach their full potential.
“Again, (we have) a lot of young guys, right? A lot of young guys who are trying to figure it out,” Chambers said.
“It’s not about me and Pido.”
