Jarencio sick, says assistant coach, misses second UST game in Filoil

COMEBACK KIDS. UST Coach Pido Jarencio (R) and Jeric Teng (L) face the media shortly after the Tigers came from behind to beat the NU Bulldogs at the UAAP men’s basketball game Saturday, July 28, 2012, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Head coach Pido Jarencio was missing anew on the sidelines Saturday as University of Santo Tomas nabbed its second win in the 2013 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup.

Aljon Mariano and Kevin Ferrer nailed clutch baskets to lift the Tigers past Ateneo, 63-57, in a rematch of last year’s UAAP finals and only assistant Estong Ballesteros was there to see it.

“May sakit kasi sya. Tumawag sya sa’kin kagabi kasi masama daw pakiramdam nya after nung [He’s sick. He called me last night to say that he wasn’t feeling well after the] Petron game,” Ballesteros told reporters.

“Binilin nalang nya yung team sakin, sabi ko sa kanya kakausapin ko nalang yung mga bata [He just left the team to me and I told him that I would talk to the boys],” he added.

Jarencio also missed UST’s opening game against La Salle in the pre-season tournament due to his commitment with Petron in the PBA.

“First assistant kasi sya sa Petron[He is the first assistant in Petron]. Parang ganito, sakin pinagkakatiwala yung [he entrusted the] team [pag wala sya],” said Ballesteros.

But Ballesteros said the key to their victory on Saturday was still the following the system of Jarencio, who could return to UST practice on Monday.

“Yung sistema talaga kailangan i-follow. Kung ano yung pinapagawa samin ni coach Pido, tuloy lang namin [The system should be followed. Whatever it is that Coach Pido wants us to do],” said Ballesteros.