Jarencio leaves door open for UST: ‘I’m just here’

Pido Jarencio. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Pido Jarencio holds no ill will towards his alma mater University of Santo Tomas following the appointment of Aldin Ayo as the new head coach of the Growling Tigers.

“If they don’t want our help, there’s no problem,” he said.

The 53-year-old mentor had long coveted a return to his roots in España since leaving the squad back in 2013.

READ: Jarencio vocal on return to Tigers but ‘no response’ from UST yet

Jarencio collected a 56-54 record at the helm for UST in his eight-year tenure from 2006 to 2013, and also delivered the Growling Tigers’ last championship back in UAAP Season 69.

UST administration, however, had other things in mind as it locked Ayo for the next six years in hopes of turning the men’s basketball team’s fortunes around after a disastrous two-year run under Boy Sablan that even saw the Growling Tigers finish Season 80 with a 1-13 slate.

READ: Aldin Ayo signs 6-year deal with UST

The hiring seemingly irked the PBA legend as he went off on his Twitter account following the management’s decision to hire an “outsider.”

READ: Jarencio voices displeasure over UST’s hiring of ‘outsider’ as coach

Jarencio has changed his tone since as he puts his full focus on his head coaching job at GlobalPort in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup.

“We’re focused here. We just wanted to help the others,” he said.

He’s not closing the door, though, as he hopes to one day, get a call from UST once again.

“I’m just here. We’re always ready,” he said.