Year of the Tigers?

Pido Jarencio revealed that he was given a two-year extension as head coach of University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

And the marching order is clear: Win the title.

In a short message to DAILY TRIBUNE, the outspoken mentor revealed that he will be gunning for no less than the title following the contract extension that was given to him until Season 90 of the men’s basketball tournament.

With Jarencio’s extension, the university’s biggest backer — San Miguel Corporation (SMC) — will be staying as well with SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua, a proud UST alumnus who played with Jarencio in the late 80s, retaining his role as Special Assistant to the Rector for Sports.

“Yes, and we will be gunning for the crown,” Jarencio’s short reply to the query if he was given a contract extension to stay as Tigers mentor until 2028.

The 61-year-old Jarencio, the last coach to lead UST to the UAAP title in 2006, made a return in Season 86 in 2023 armed with a marching order of pumping blood into the program that struggled with an embarrassing total of only four wins in 28 games in Seasons 84 and 85.

When Jarencio took over, the Tigers improved significantly, finishing with a 7-7 win-loss record that secure the third spot entering the Final Four. Although they bowed to eventual champion University of the Philippines in the semifinals, hopes were high as quality talents were starting to lineup at the school’s España campus due to the newly-revived program and the financial muscles of SMC — the biggest patron in Philippine sports. 

Last season, the Tigers waged a recruiting coup when they landed UAAP juniors Most Valuable Player (MVP) Collins Akowe together with a promising cast of players from the Tiger Cubs like Koji Buenaflor, Charles Bucsit and Mark Llemit as well as former National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors MVP Amiel Acido.

The result was very impressive as the Tigers started hot before finishing the eliminations with an 8-6 record before getting eliminated anew by the Fighting Maroons in the Final Four.

Jarencio said they have nothing to be ashamed of as they gave their best despite falling short. He also expressed his willingness to return to UST, saying that it’s now up to the school if they still want them to run the men’s basketball program.

“We did our best. We lost by one point to the defending champion, and that's it," Jarencio said following their heartbreaking 81-82 loss to the Fighting Maroons in the semis. 

But with Jarencio returning for two more years, the Thoamasian community gets fresh hopes. 

Although skipper Nic Cabañero and playmakers Forthsky Padrigao and Kyle Paranada will no longer return, promising recruits like 6-foot-5 Kristian Porter, Michael Mara, Mur Alao, and Kurt Laput will be on board to help the core of Akowe, Gelo Crisostomo and Acido. 

“We had a good run in Season 88,” a UST insider said on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to divulge sensitive matters like contract extensions.

“With this (contract extension), we’re expecting to go all out and win the crown.”

“Hopefully, the year 2026 will be the Year of the Tigers.”