ALWAYS jolly, University of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio could not be happier as the seconds ticked away in their duel against Adamson University last Saturday night.
Jarencio later raised his hands and pointed to the UST crowd at The Arena in San Juan while giving his coaching staff and players on the bench hugs and high-fives—for good reason.
“This is my second year, siguro, nag-iba ang atmosphere kasi iba iyong labanan, iba iyong recruitment. Kaya this is a magandang stepping stone,” Jarencio said. “Nag-u-umpisa na tayo. Kailangan lang pagtiyagaan. Basta kami ang goal namin is, after this, we are here in the playoffs.
“Trabaho na ulit. Gawa tayo ng game plan kung paano talunin ang UP, parang David and Goliath iyan, medyo maganda iyong labanan na ito. Basta kami, laban lang kami, prepara kami. Ang mga players, healthy, ang importante healthy kaming lahat,” he added.
Jarencio spoke after the Growling Tigers ripped the Soaring Falcons 75-49 for their seventh win and clinched a Final Four slot in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament.
The España-based five will return to the semifinals after a 7-7 slate in the eliminations, and for the first time since 2019 when UST reached the Big Dance behind a team bannered by former MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo, Renzo Subido, Rhenz Abando, and Mark Nonoy and coached by Aldin Ayo. The Tigers lost via a two-game sweep at the hands of the Ateneo Blue Eagles who completed a perfect 16-0 campaign and a three-peat.
“Actually, ano iyon, hindi naman ako ang coach doon. That was 2019, that was the Renzo Subido three-point shot, winning shot. Gawa tayo ng bagong istorya. Kami naman ang gagawa ng bagong istorya. Tignan natin. Kanya-kanyang istorya iyan. Itong panahon namin, ito ang istorya, gawa kami,” Jarencio said. “Iba ang players noon, at iba iyong players ngayon. Medyo mas matibay ang players ng UP. Ako naman, kumpiyansa ako sa players ko.
“Noong second round medyo nag-struggle kami, puro talo. Akala ko made in Taiwan lang ang players. Nagpapanalo na kami. Made in USA pala. Matibay rin. Itong mga ito, ready.”
Despite the second seed Fighting Maroons holding a win-once incentive against No. 3 UST, Jarencio is unfazed.
“Ngayon, preparasyon na kami para sa Final Four, playoffs against UP. Twice-to-beat sila, malay mo, bilog ang bola, may tsamba,” he said. “Ganyan lang kami. Basta dito lang kami sa baba, nasa lupa lang kami, tingnan namin. Pagtrabahuan lang namin.”
