NORTHPORT coach Pido Jarencio is one person who can keep Kelly Nabong’s infamous temper in check.
Jarencio maintains it is all about sticking to one formula he applies not just on Nabong but the entire Batang Pier crew.
“Hindi ko sinasalubong ang galit ng mga iyan,” Jarencio told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
“Kapag galit sila, hinahayaan ko lang mag-blow off sila ng steam,” added Jarencio. “Hindi naman puwedeng galit sila buong araw. Kapag kumalma na, saka ko kinakausap.”
The ploy works both ways.
“Kapag ako naman nagalit, kuwidaw sila. Alam nila iyan kaya tahimik lang sila kapag ako naman,” Jarencio said.
Jarencio spoke after learning how Nabong described one incident in 2018 when Jarencio pacified the rugged center-forward during a heated game against Phoenix.
“I think I got frustrated in a game once,” Nabong told host Beau Belga of Rain or Shineduring an edition of Extra Rice last Wednesday.
“I think I was talking to one of the referees and I got hot-headed, as usual sometimes. He grabbed my face and said, ‘Kelly! Kiss me, give me a kiss!” added Nabong.
Jarencio’s surprising request was all that Nabong needed to calm down.
“Like I can’t be mad no more. Okay. ‘Mwah! I’m not mad no more.’
“That’s why I call him a great coach because he knows how to handle every player on that team accordingly.”
Jarencio simpy laughed off that incident, maintaining he simply tries to find ways to distract a player from totally blowing up.
Especially Nabong, who he handled briefly in 2018 and is now back at NorthPort after being traded from San Miguel Beer late last season
“Si Kelly kabisado namin ang isa’t-isa,” explained Jarencio, known to be a hothead even during his UAAP years while with Santo Tomas and a long PBA stint (1986-2001).
“Ang interpretasyon ko sa kanya he is one of the few big men who has the talent and body and can dominate games,” added Jarencio.
“Pero kung di maayos ang isip niya masisira lang ang career niya at baka maging sandali lang. Kaya ang lagi kong sinasabi diyan, kailangan mas responsible siya sa mga actuations niya, lalo na sa court. Kasi hindi lang siya maapektuhan. Buong team.”
