Jarencio dismisses Parks' complaints about dirty play
UST Coach Pido Jarencio has some words of advice for NU star Bobby Ray Parks: quit whining.
Jarencio was reacting to reports about Parks complaining of UST forward Kevin Ferrer's physical defense during the Tigers' 71-62 Final Four win over the Bulldogs last Sunday that forced a rubber match for a finals slot on Saturday. The Bulldogs forward even compared Ferrer to the Detroit Pistons of the 1980s, a group known for their borderline dirty play. And although he didn't mention Parks by name, his target was clear.
"Dapat alam mo ang laro sa Pilipinas kasi ako noong araw, soft drinks lang nakikipagpatayan na (You should know the brand of basketball here in the Philippines because during my time, we would kill each other even for soft drinks)," Jarencio told reporters during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey's Malate. "Iyan ang brand ng laro natin sa Pilipinas (That's the brand of play here in the Philippines."
Jarencio added that the rugged Filipino brand of play was an integral part of the country's dominance of the Asian basketball scene in the 1960s and 1970s.
"Kaya nga kinatatakutan tayo sa Asia dahil ganon tayo, may shooting, speed and yung puso buo, ang mga players matapang kaya No. 1 tayo sa Asia. Hanggang dumating ang impluwenysa ng Amerika, nag-iba na, pailag-ilag tayo kaya medyo nawala tayo. Ngayon nakipagpatayan ang Gilas, ganon ang laro ng Pilipino. (That's why we were feared in Asia, because we had shooting, speed, heart and courage. Things changed when we got influenced by the American style of play and we started avoiding contact. But now Gilas brought it back, that's how Filipinos play).
"Actually, wala namang patayan doon. Pilay kung pilay lang (No one got killed. Only crippled)," the coach added in jest.
Parks, who was also at the forum, did not immediately answer Jarencio's statements, but afterwards talked to reporters while he way on his way out of the venue.
"There's a fine line between playing physical and hurting someone," he said, before leaving a parting shot that could have been addressed to Jarencio and the Tigers as well:
"See you on Saturday."
