UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio caused quite a stir when he delivered a pointed message to his bashers following Sunday's 79-70 victory over Far Eastern University.
“Ang dami kong basher. I love you all, mamatay na kayong lahat," he said in jest, albeit with a tinge of reality as he failed to hide his exasperation on the team's critics.
Truly, it has been a tough stretch for the Growling Tigers.
Looking to make a splash in this UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament, UST found itself in a funk with a three-game losing skid, falling to top teams University of the Philippines and La Salle before a painful home defeat to Ateneo to start the second round.
READ: UST fends off hard-charging FEU to keep hold of No. 4 spot
Of course, when things don't fall into plan, criticism will always be instant. And Jarencio, ever the father figure, knew that he'd always be the first line of defense to this team.
"Sabi ko nga sa players, pag panalo sila lagi ang bida. Pero pag talo, akin yun. Ako ang sasalo ng lahat," he said.
It doesn't mean that those words don't get to him, and after this skid-busting victory to move up to a 5-6 card, emotions got the better of the mentor.
And he retorted with the only thing he knows how: to fight back, even if his words get him in hot water anew.
Jarencio's frustration is understandable. After all, it has been an uphill climb to get UST back to respectability after years in the doldrums.
Following the pandemic, things haven't been easy in Espana, switching from coach to coach with little success.
In the past three seasons, the Growling Tigers have only managed to win seven games in total, including a one-win campaign under Bal David in UAAP Season 85.
Even in Jarencio's return last year, nothing came easy as UST only conjured a 3-11 win-loss record, leading to a massive overhaul of the squad for this present run.
To the fiery tactician, his words are only meant to protect those who matter -- the whole team and those who believe through thick and thin.
"Para ito sa management which is yung UST, mga kaparian na dire-diretso ang suporta sa amin, mga sponsors namin, si Boss Al [Chua] na nandyan sumusuporta,” Jarencio said.
"Yung mga true fans namin na nandyan, na UST fans na manalo, matalo nandyan. Kokonti sila ngayon kasi puro kami talo, pero pagka nanalo nandyan sila lahat."
"Basta kami laban, laro lang kami. Itong team na ito laban lang ito. 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 roon."
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