After months of waiting, the University of Santo Tomas community received the news they have sought for years on Monday.
San Miguel Corporation is backing the Growling Tigers program.
And with it, SMC sports director Alrancis Chua was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Rector for Sports.
Hours after the formal announcement, Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio went on CNN Sportsdesk to share the impact SMC and Chua will bring not just to the men’s basketball team but also to the entire university.
(C) Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP
“First of all, gusto namin magpasalamat kay Boss Ramon Ang for supporting us. Kung hindi dahil kay Boss Alfrancis Chua, hindi matutuloy ang partnership ng UST at San Miguel,” expressed Jarencio, who is returning to the school after 10 years.
“In terms of support, alam naman natin na winners ang San Miguel group lalo na sa basketball. Malaking inspirasyon para sa players at community ang presence ng San Miguel, especially si Boss Al. Si Boss Al, tutok ‘yan, pumupunta siya sa practice. Mas magiging close din ang team.”
Last February, Chua, the Growling Tigers coaching staff, and school officials had dinner moments after the appointment of Jarencio.
However, nothing was set in stone back then.
According to Jarencio, SMC needed to tie up some loose ends with Letran and the other teams it is supporting before fully committing to UST.
“Medyo matagal na ligawan. Siyempre, at the same time, nandun pa yung support ng San Miguel group sa Letran. Siguro, kaya hindi pa talaga makapag-decide,” he shared.
“Pero puso kasi ni Boss Al nasa UST kaya siguro… Sa tulong ni Boss, na-convince niya si Boss RSA (Ramon S. Ang) na tulungan yung UST.”
Though now having the backing of one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, Jarencio is tempering expectations for UAAP Season 86.
Jarencio basically inherited last season’s Growling Tigers team that went 1-13 last season.
Key recruits for this year are Arellano University’s SJ Moore and homegrown talent Mark Llemit.
That is why Jarencio is not making any promises for Season 86.
“Yung preparation, we are on track. We’re okay. Hindi kami sumali sa mga preseason dahil inayos namin yung system namin at maging komportable yung mga player. Each and every player, nag-iimprove sa training. Ako, nakikita ko… Hindi ako nangangako pero pagpapawisan yung mga teams na makakalaban namin,” he said.
“Expected talaga na lahat ng teams malalakas pero sabi nga ni Boss Al, ang basketball, limahan lang. Kaya okay lang. Basta kami, tuloy lang ang turo sa mga players. Ina-assure namin na lalaban ang mga batang ito.”
Since he left the school, the Tigers have been embroiled from one controversy to another.
There are the game-fixing and hazing allegations brought on Bong Dela Cruz back in 2016.
Then after getting to the Finals in Season 82, allegations of holding a bubble training in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic led to the school releasing Aldin Ayo.
That is why if there is one thing Jarencio will guarantee, it’s that he will make sure that the school will once again be proud of the Tigers.
“It’s going to be a work in progress. Matagal napasok sa controversy yung UST. Aayusin natin ngayon. Uumpisahan natin. Tapos malaki din ang kumpyansa ko dahil alam kong nasa likod ko si Boss Al,” he said.
“This Season 86, magiging masaya ulit tayo. Bubuhayin natin ang UST.”
