Jay Alejandro. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
J-Jay Alejandro played just one year for National University head coach Jamike Jarin, but the graduating Bulldog said that lone year has been the most special in his UAAP tenure.
And all that was thanks to Jarin.
READ: Alejandro laments not playing more years under NU coach Jarin
“My UAAP career has been fun especially my last year with coach Jamike, that’s really been my best memory,” said Alejandro, who played in his final UAAP game after NU lost to University of the Philippines, 106-81, Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“What made it special was I had the chance to play under coach Jamike who we all know is a multi-titled coach in the UAAP and the NCAA.”
READ: Jarin takes blame for NU’s failed Final Four bid
Jarin was an eight-time UAAP juniors champion with Ateneo and a one-time NCAA seniors champion with San Beda and that was the kind of pedigree that Alejandro admired.
Another thing that drew Alejandro, who is a one-time UAAP champion back in Season 77, to Jarin was the trust the mentor gave him.
“The sweetest thing was he allowed Matt (Salem) and I to be captains.”
Alejandro added Jarin rarely talked to them about basketball and evoked an aura not of a coach’s, but of a father figure.
“He’s like a father figure to us, we actually talk more about other things not about basketball,” said Alejandro, who finished with 16 points and eight assists.
“Every night he’ll send me a random text, and we’re always talking. That’s extra special for me.”