LOOK who’s having a reunion at Terrafirma?
It’s no less than Aljon Mariano and former college coach Pido Jarencio.
The two found their paths crossed anew over at the Dyip after Mariano was part of the Barangay Ginebra trade package that sent Maverick Ahanmisi to Terrafirma for the team’s first round draft pick in Season 51.
READ: Mariano included in Ahanmisi trade for Terrafirma first-rounder
It has been 12 years since Jarencio and Mariano were together in a team.
Mariano, now 33, spent his entire collegiate career playing under Jarencio at University of Santo Tomas.
Jarencio, who remains as Growling Tigers coach, is now team governor of Terrafirma.
The two came close to winning a UAAP men’s basketball championship in Season 76, only to lose against De La Salle in overtime of the deciding Game 3 after two crucial miscues committed by Mariano in both the waning seconds of regulation and the extra period.
But Mariano did win seven PBA titles with Barangay Ginebra, the team which picked him in the second round of the 2015 draft.
Mariano’s transfer at Terrafirma also reunited him and Ahanmisi with former Ginebra teammate Paul Garcia, acquired by the team after the Kings relegated him to the unrestricted free agent list (with rights to salary).
The reunion came just months short after Terrafirma let go of another former UST star in Kevin Ferrer, who was a teammate of Mariano and also played for Jarencio at Espana.
Ferrer, 32, took his act to TNT after not receiving a contract extension with the Dyip.
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