WHEN Ateneo begins its buildup in its quest for a sixth straight crown, Norman Black won’t be the only familiar face in the coaching staff that will be noticeably missing.
Longtime assistant coach Jamike Jarin will not be around for the Blue Eagles in the coming UAAP season, for the meantime, as he focuses on his job as head coach of the national youth team.
“Right now, I’m not practicing with them (Blue Eagles) because I’m focusing on the Philippine Youth team,” Jarin confirmed to Spin.ph.
Jarin has been a fixture in the Ateneo basketball program, previously leading its high school team to several UAAP crowns.
Jarin, who took over the national Under-16 squad at the start of the year, was also one of Black’s assistant coaches for eight years in a partnership that produced five straight UAAP crowns for the Blue Eagles.
When Black returned to the PBA to coach Talk ’N Text, Jarin was also in the running for the head coaching job.
Ateneo head coach Bo Perasol said the move will enable Jarin to concentrate on his duties as national youth coach as well as being an assistant coach at Talk ’N Text since the usual load of coaches under the wing of Manny V. Pangilinan is only two coaching jobs.
“’Yung MVP group, parang maximum na magkaroon (ng coaching job) is dalawa para hindi masyadong ma-divide too much ‘yung assignments nila. Tig-dala-dalawa lang. Hindi pwedeng tatlo,” Perasol explained.
The newly-appointed Ateneo head coach said that Jarin will always be welcome to help the Blue Eagles. In fact, Perasol said that he calls Jarin for any queries.
“Anytime naman (he can help), kasi may mga programa pa ’yung RP Youth. In fact, ’yung mga tulong niya, automatic sa akin kasi tinatawagan ko rin siya kung may tanong ako.
“I give him the leeway kasi mahirap na trabaho rin ’yung maging RP Youth coach. But it doesn’t deter me from calling him para tumulong sa amin,” said Perasol.
Jarin affirmed that he will continue to help the Blue Eagles even if he is not with the team personally.
“If I have a time and I’m free, pupunta ako (sa practice ng Blue Eagles),” said Jarin.
With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada
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