Then-UST coach Pido Jarencio during on of his huddles with the Tigers. Photo by Ruth Navarra-Mayo/INQUIRER
A familiar face will be in the crowd as University of Santo Tomas tries to extend the UAAP Season 78 championship series on Saturday.
UST legend and former Growling Tigers coach Pido Jarencio told INQUIRER.net in a short chat that he will be supporting the team for Game 2 live at Araneta Coliseum.
“Andun tayo sa Sabado. (We will be there on Saturday.)”
Moments before GlobalPort and Ginebra faced off in the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup last Wednesday, the charismatic coach admitted that he and the whole coaching staff were closely following the game between the Growling Tigers and the Tamaraws at Mall of Asia Arena.
Amid the disappointment, Jarencio remains upbeat with UST’s chances.
Curiously, Batang Pier assistant Eric Gonzales, a UST alumnus, is on the other side of the fence serving as a deputy to FEU coach Nash Racela.
GlobalPort assistant coach Senen Dueñas, meanwhile, is on UST coach Bong dela Cruz’ camp with the Growling Tigers.
With the battlecry “pride, puso, palaban,” Jarencio steered UST to its last UAAP title back in 2006, his rookie year in coaching. The Growling Tigers also lost Game 1 in that said affair, before toppling the Norman Black-mentored Ateneo squad in three games behind Finals MVP Jojo Duncil.
Under Jarencio, the Growling Tigers had two more Finals appearances but wound up as runner-ups, first against Ateneo in 2012, and then versus La Salle in 2013. He left the Tigers lair to be the GlobalPort head coach.