Tigers may lose Pido to Batang Pier

The basketball community must  know  by now that  University of Santo Tomas’  Pido  Jarencio is being installed  as  head coach of Globalport.

To say that he is replacing Ritchie  Ticzon may be erroneous since Ritchie  was appointed to the position only on  an interim  basis.

However, neither Pido  nor Globalport owner Mikee Romero would confirm the report.

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To my recollection,  Mikee has  had  his eyes on the UST Tigers coach as far  back as more than a year ago.

They have had long and serious  talks about Mikee’s offer at that time   when negotiations seemed to be so  positive, but nothing happened.

Or was it Barako Bull who wanted  Pido?

Then in this year’s preseason, Mikee  thought of Pido again.

“Junel Baculi  had  been my hands-down choice for our maiden season,  but it turned out that he was so hot-headed (mainitin  ang ulo) and short-tempered, games were lost because  of  this. I considered other options,” he said.

Mikee said the short list of candidates to replace Baculi was narrowed  down to FEU Tamaraws coach Nash Racela, Alaska assistant coach Alex Compton and Pido.

“Unfortunately Pido had no time to talk with us that time since his mind, body and spirit were fully focused on  the UAAP championship against La  Salle. I had to decide ASAP because  the PBA was about to start so I made  Ritchie the interim  coach.”

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Will the Mikee-Pido partnership  finally materialize this time around?

Online writer and PTV-4’s Snow  Badua is certain  it’s a done deal. He  was writing the story when we arrived at the JCSGO gym for the D-League  games last Thursday.

Indeed, the report is all over the social media, but we still have to see it on  print, officially.

“Will Pido join Globalport?” This  was our final question to Mikee who was uncharacteristically answering  with much caution.

“Most probably,”  he replied. “Pero  kailangan pa niyang magpaalam (He needs  to secure the blessing of) The  fathers  at UST, we were told.