An animated Pido Jarencio did not mince words about his doubters after the Growling Tigers won over FEU, which snapped UST's three-game slide in UAAP Season 87.
UST head coach Pido Jarencio had a lot to say to his naysayers after the Growling Tigers returned to their winning ways at the expense of the FEU Tamaraws in the second round of UAAP Season 87.
As they snapped a three-game losing skid and breathed life back into their Final Four hopes, the 60-year-old coach lashed out at his team’s fair weather fans.
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“Yung mga true fans namin na andiyan, yung mga UST fans na manalo o matalo andiyan. Kokonti sila ngayon dahil puro kami talo eh. Pagka nananalo, andiyan sila lahat,” remarked Jarencio.
Prior to their victory over FEU on Sunday, October 27, the Growling Tigers suffered a tough loss at their home court when they fell to the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The loss punctuated a tough stretch for the initially-promising campaign of the Growling Tigers, and seemed to have brought out the critics against Jarencio’s current system in España.
But after getting over the hump, Jarencio chose to focus on his team instead as they continue to push for a semifinals spot.
“Ang dami kong bashers, I love you all. Mamatay na kayong lahat. Ganun lang,” said the veteran coach.
“Basta sakin, basta kami, laban lang, laro lang kami. Laban kami. Itong team na ito. Laban lang to,” he added.
Jarencio also didn’t plead for more fans or supporters to come — rather, he’s interested on having UST’s “true fans” present, who will be there for the team regardless of the result.
“Sa mga fans namin na tunay, manood kayo. Kung hindi kayo tunay, okay lang, kahit limang libo lang yung nanonood sa amin ngayon. Okay lang kami ron,” he said.
“Thank you, wala na akong kailangang sabihin baka mas marami pa kong masabi. Ewan ko na lang. Thank you.”
However, both Jarencio and UST’s supporters will have time to cool their heads before meeting once again as the Growling Tigers won’t be playing until November 6, Wednesday, when they face the NU Bulldogs at the Mall of Asia Arena.
At 5-6 and fourth place in the standings, UST will try to create distance from the bottom half of the standings as the race for the Final Four tightens.