Pido's PBA homecoming

Pido Jarencio stepped into the floor of the Mall of Asia Arena court with a pained smile of his face. It was a familiar face for fans of the UST Growling Tigers, but it was new for the PBA fans. He sat on GlobalPort’s bench but he didn’t stay there for long. Well-wishers who were all glad to see him back approached him for handshakes and other pleasantries.

One of the people who approached Jarencio was fellow old-timer Andy Jao, who is now with the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters.

“Masikip itong uniform ko,” Jarencio said as Jao burst into laughter. The head coach tugged on his white polo and jerked his shoulders to somehow make it fit better.

If only Jarencio could tug and jerk his way to fitting into the PBA like he did for his uniform, he’d do it in a heartbeat. However, fitting back into the professional league will prove to be much harder than that.

Air21 Express, the team that finished last in the 2014 Philippine Cup, raced to a huge lead against Jarencio’s Batang Pier. Asi Taulva and Joseph Yeo starter the game canning long shots to build a 22-14 first quarter lead.

In the second quarter, GlobalPort import Evan Brock stepped into the line. He missed his third straight free throw of the game. Jarencio made eye contact with the import. He gestured the proper free throw shooting form; elbow tucked, fluid motion. Brock nodded his head and swished his second free throw.

Jarencio wasn’t sure if Brock actually took his advice. Unlike his UST Tigers, Brock is already a made man. Who he is as a player right now will never change. His shooting mechanics and the way he plays the game are already set.

In the UAAP, Jarencio took pride in teaching players the basics and then watching them flourish under his system. In the PBA, Jarencio will have to forget micro-managing these grown men.

GlobalPort Batang Pier fell short. They lost 83-78 to the Express who were steadier in the end game. Jarencio stayed with his coaching staff inside their dugout for a very long time. The second game was already in the second period when Jarencio talked to the media.

“Marami pang kulang,” Jarencio rued. “Yung sistema syempre di pa nila masyadong alam. Ako rin as a coach may mga pagkukulang pa.” The coach however defended his players from the backslash of the loss.

“Basta sa akin ang importante, lumaban yung mga bata. Kapag kasi palaban ka siguradong may magandang mangyayari,” Jarencio continued. “Kapag nakuha na yung sistema, tuluy-tuloy nay an.”

For the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, nothing much is expected from Jarencio’s GlobalPort Batang Pier. The coach however wants to warn everyone who are itching to count them out.

“Kahit naman nung nasa UST pa ako wala rin naming nag-expect sa amin,” he said, still confident that he will make something out of this combination of players.

There were no Yellow Jacket drums to drown out Jarencio’s voice during his first PBA game. There was no singing of their school hymn after the game. It was so different for Jarencio but his attack on the game remains the same. From UST to GlobalPort, talent is good to have but the fiery coach would pick a lesser talented player for someone who has puso, has pride, and is palaban.