For UST Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio, there’s little doubt as to which two teams are Nos. 1 and 2 in UAAP Season 89. They would be the La Salle Green Archers and the UP Fighting Maroons—and for obvious reasons. Even so, the veteran tactician isn’t losing hope that a team—his Growling Tigers, perhaps?—can dislodge one of these perennial powerhouses.
“Obvious naman ‘yun, basta ‘yung 1-2, alam na natin ‘yun kasi defending champion [La Salle] at saka runner-up [UP]. Siyempre, sila pa rin,” Jarencio told reporters during the UAAP Season 89 presser on Tuesday. “Basta kami, baka makasingit lang kami. Andiyan lang naman kami. Pero, hindi ba maganda na ibang kulay naman ang nandon? Lagi na lang sila e. Tignan natin, baka may chamba.”
Jarencio, of course, is referring to the last three seasons, when the Green Archers and Fighting Maroons ended up as the top two teams in men’s basketball—with La Salle the champions in Seasons 86 and 88 at the expense of the Fighting Maroons, and UP winning it all in Season 87 against the Green Archers.
A Pido Jarencio Team Through and Through
While Jarencio says he’s hoping for some “chamba” this season, it is also worth noting that he’s got a team perfectly capable of contending for the title. Even better, it’s a team molded in his vision and to his liking.
“Nung first year [2023], nangangapa pa tayo dahil ‘di ko naman players ‘yun,” said Jarencio, who piloted UST to its last title way back in 2006. “Itong team na ‘to, akin na ‘to. As the years went by, naayos namin ‘yung programa, ‘yung sistema, kaya naging mas solid na kami.”
Jarencio’s confidence is notable given the departures of Nic Cabañero, Forthsky Padrigao, and Kyle Paranada. It is also unsurprising, as the fiery head coach still has weapons to rely upon this season starting with hulking center Collins Akowe, whom Jarencio believes will show marked improvement in the years to come.
“’Yung paa namin laging nasa lupa, and Collins knows that,” he said in the same presser. “And Collins is just a 20-year-old guy, second year pa lang ni Collins ngayon. Marami pa siyang taon na makikita niyo pa siyang mag-improve.”
Last season, as a rookie, the 6-foot-10 Akowe put up monster numbers of 16.4 points, 14.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.6 blocks. With a full offseason of work, don’t be surprised if the big man delivers big time for UST.
Tigers Raring to Growl
Akowe will have plenty of help, too, with Amiel Acido and Mark Llemit also expected to make a quantum leap in Season 89. Jarencio himself is confident that both have what it takes, noting how they are “good leaders” who have improved on and off the court.
“Alam nilang panahon na nila ngayon,” said Jarencio. “They are good leaders, and they improved a lot not just in basketball, but also outside of basketball. Kahit nung nandito na si Nic, nakakatulong naman na sila. Pero for this season, alam na nila ‘yung responsibilities nila.”
Aside from Akowe, Llemit, and Acido, UST can also lean on Koji Buenaflor, Charles Bucsit, and Carl Manding, as well as transferee Kristian Porter, second FSA Petero Osang, and rookies Kirk Cañete and Charles Esteban. One-and-done recruits Landyn Jumawan, Donovan Sevilla, and Enzo Abellar could also level up the Growling Tigers into title contention.
But even with a loaded roster, Jarencio is choosing to be cautiously optimistic—mostly because he knows the high quality of competition his Growling Tigers will be facing.
“Walang team na tapon d’yan eh, so tingnan lang muna namin kung saan kami aabot,” he stressed. “Ang importante, nagprepara lang kami. May mga circumstances na ‘di mo masasabi, tulad ng injuries. Baka may player kang natutulog, biglang nalaglag sa kama, napilay. Pabiro, pero pwedeng mangyari.”
Jarencio is right. But one thing that could also happen is this: the crown goes back to España.
