UST head coach Pido Jarencio isn’t rushing expectations after the Growling Tigers reached their first goal in UAAP Season 87.
UST head coach Pido Jarencio isn’t one to rush into things after the Growling Tigers hurdled their first goal in UAAP Season 87 — reaching the Final Four for the first time in five years.
Understanding what it takes to build a championship team, just the way he did when he led the Growling Tigers to the title in 2006, Jarencio is aware that it’s not going to be an overnight success.
Faced with tall odds ahead of their first semis appearance since 2019, the veteran coach is approaching the rest of the year with cautious optimism.
“Actually, yung 2013 na Final Four [appearance] ko, it took eight years. Eight years ako sa UST. Hindi magic yun. I won a championship 2006, tapos nag-Final Four, Final Four, championship tapos championship. Ibig sabihin, build build build. Hanggang makuha mo yung team mo na talaga,” said Jarencio, who is in his second year back of handling the Growling Tigers this time around.
“Ito, this is my second year, siguro, nag-iba ang atmosphere kasi iba yung labanan, iba yung recruitment. Kaya, this is a magandang stepping stone. Nagu-umpisa na tayo. Kailangan lang pagtiyagaan lang. Basta kami ang goal namin is, after this, we are here in the playoffs. Trabaho na ulit.”
When it mattered most, UST aced its test with flying colors when the Tigers drubbed Adamson University, 75-49, to ensure their place in the Final Four.
[RELATED: UAAP: UST rides third quarter surge to book Final Four slot at expense of Adamson]
But with a long road ahead of them before they can call themselves finalists, or champions even, Jarencio said that it’s all going to be about heart — especially going up against a team like the UP Fighting Maroons.
“Gawa tayo ng game plan kung paano talunin ang UP. parang David and Goliath yan, medyo maganda yung labanan na ito. Basta kami, laban lang kami, prepara kami. Ang mga players, healthy, ang importante healthy kaming lahat,” he said.
UST is currently 0-2 against the Fighting Maroons this season, and with the latter heading into the semis with a twice-to-beat advantage, it will be an uphill battle for the Growling Tigers.
But with everything to play for, Jarencio will leave it all up to fate.
“Ngayon, preparasyon na kami para sa Final Four, playoffs against UP. Twice-to-beat sila, malay mo. bilog ang bola, may tsamba. Ganyan lang kami. Basta dito lang kami sa baba, nasa lupa lang kami, tignan namin. Pagtrabahuan lang namin,” he said.
Still, history may be on their side as the last time the Growling Tigers were in the Final Four in 2019, they were also up against a twice-to-beat UP team.
During that year, with head coach Aldin Ayo leading the helm, the Growling Tigers were able to hurdle the twice-to-beat disadvantage and make the Finals.
Jarencio, though, isn’t one to rely on what happened in the past. Rather, he’s eager to create a new narrative for his players.
“Gawa tayo ng bagong storya. Kami naman ang gagawa ng bagong storya. Tignan natin. Kani-kaniyang storya yan e. Itong panahon namin, ito ang storya, gawa kami. Iba ang players noon, at iba yung players ngayon. Medyo mas matibay ang players ng UP. Ako naman, kumpiyansa ako sa players ko,” said Jarencio.
“Nung second round medyo nag-struggle kami, puro talo. Akala ko made in Taiwan lang ang players. Eh nagpapanalo na kami. Ah, made in USA pala. Matibay rin. Itong mga to, ready,” he quipped.
The Growling Tigers ended the elimination round at 7-7 and on a two-game win streak.
Facing their biggest test of the year, UST can only hope they step up to the challenge.