JARENCIO TAKES OVER GLOBALPORT COACHING REINS
GlobalPort team owner Mikee Romero has signed up Pido Jarencio as the new head coach of the Batang Pier.
Jarencio stepped down as bench chieftain of the UST Tigers and then signed a two-year pact with GlobalPort.
“Pido gave a letter of resignation today (Monday). We signed him to a two-year contract extendible,” said Romero.
“At last, we have a head coach already that will go with me for the long term,” Romero also said.
Jarencio, a 16-year pro player, is returning to the PBA after being ditched among the assistant coaches at Barangay Ginebra after the 2013 season.
He previously sat down on the Petron Blaze bench as assistant to Chot Reyes, Siot Tanquingcen and Ato Agustin.
The former UST King Goldie and longtime national player is a champion coach in the collegiate ranks, winning a crown each for his alma mater in the UAAP and in the Champion’s League.
He left UST after steering the team to runner-up finishes in the UAAP in 2012 and 2013.
Romero said he’s giving Jarencio a free hand to tinker with his lineup and form his coaching staff.
“Coach Pido will evaluate the existing team this week and he will give his recommendation,” said Romero. “He’s also free to choose his assistants. He will interview all of them tomorrow.”
Romero has hinted, though, that Jarencio is bringing with him some of his deputies at UST.
Under interim coach Ritchie Ticzon, the Batang Pier actually had a decent 4-3 start in the Philippine Cup before floundering – no thanks to the sidelining of top gun Jay Washington.
They ended up seventh in the elimination stage and failed to make it past the quarterfinals, bowing to the second-ranked Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 96-106.
They lost several close matches, with some quarters pointing to Ticzon’s lack of experience as a major cause. (SB)
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