The Pido and Juno Show

RECAH Trinidad didn’t give a hoot while everybody went bonkers about the NBA preseason game played at Mall of Asia Arena Thursday night.

What counts, says my friend and fellow columnist, is the do-or-die match tonight at the same venue. The game pits University of Santo Tomas—Recah’s alma mater and mine, sort of—and La Salle for the UAAP men’s basketball championship.

“Tagilid si Pido, kulang ng dasal at iyak (Pido is in trouble. He needs more prayers and tears),” Recah needled by text. Pido to you and me is Alfredo Jarencio, head coach of the UST Tigers.

No matter. The games of the UAAP are like Richard Yap and Anne Curtis. Whether you like them or not, they exist and they are popular.

Throw in the clash of two contrasting coaches in men’s basketball—the association’s franchise event—and voila! Your ratings just shot up.

And what do you call your blockbuster of a series? Why, it’s the “Pido and Juno Show,” of course.

You’re familiar with Jarencio and his crying episode on national television when fourth seed UST upset National University, the tournament top seed, to reach the finals.

“Hindi pwede ang emotional sa laban (There is no place for emotions in a game),” Recah said. “Dapat maging matibay si Pido. Mas mahalaga sa kanya pangalan niya kaysa team.”  (He must be resolute and strive for his team’s fortunes and not his.)

Jarencio wore a wide grin when the Tigers took Game 1 of the Finals with a 73-72 thriller over the Archers. But Jarencio seems to have chosen to keep his cards close to his chest when it comes to UST’s moves tonight.

He has closeted himself from inquiring minds after La Salle returned the favor Saturday, coasting to a 77-70 victory that frustrated UST’s hopes for a sweep to become the first No. 4 seed to bag the crown.

While Jarencio privately summons the big momentum to return to his camp for tonight’s rubber match, Sauler, the cerebral, cool-as-a-cucumber cut of a coach, quietly plots the Archers’ game plan.

“We will maintain our balance and exploit it to the hilt,” said Sauler, who took over the helm from Gee Abanilla three weeks before the start of the UAAP men’s basketball season.

Sauler’s big men have made their living from the paint in Games 1 and 2 and intend to milk that advantage again tonight.

“If resistance gets tough on the inside, we could launch the offensive from the outside with our perimeter sharpshooters ready to deliver,” Sauler said.

He said La Salle’s shield of green and white hasn’t been based on personnel. Not before. Not tonight.

“We have no stars, only players with particular roles to fulfill,” Juno said. “We don’t work individually, we work as a team.”

The TV camera never blinks. One of these coaches will, tonight.

* * *

A grader sent by the provincial motor pool in Cabanatuan or the local government is patching up the craters of the Cuyapo-Nampicuan Road in Nueva Ecija.

The hellish, six-kilometer stretch from the Tarlac border is a major artery leading to my hometown, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. It must be infamous by now, with mentions in three Inquirer columns, including this space.

Josue Mendoza, an 82-year-old Cuyapo activist, says the temporary rehabilitation of the road is old news.

The still energetic Mendoza is right. A band-aid approach won’t work.

Calling yet again on Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and Cuyapo Mayor Jong Corpus!