Jarin makes NCAA return, joins Lyceum

Jamike Jarin will be making a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) return as he calls the shots for Lyceum of the Philippines University starting Season 102.

The Pirates made the announcement on Friday, saying that the 49-year-old mentor will be replacing Gilbert Malabanan in their bid to book a return flight to the NCAA finals.

“He represents the values of the school, which are excellence, integrity, and service,” Lyceum Athletic Director Dr. Allan Layco said.

It will be Jarin’s first time to return to the country’s oldest collegiate league since steering San Beda University to the title in Season 92 in 2016.

Composing the core of Jarin’s victorious Red Lions squads were future Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players Robert Bolick and Javee Macon.

From San Beda, Jarin joined the PBA as assistant coach of Meralco before hopping to National University, which he guided in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines from 2017 and 2019.

But his biggest break came three years later when Phoenix Super LPG hired him as assistant coach.

When Topex Robinson left to coach De La Salle University in 2023, Jarin was promoted as head coach, giving him significant experience in manning the bench.

He was elevated as team consultant after three seasons but was let go last season together with head coach Willy Wilson.

At Lyceum, he will handle the squad bannered by Renz Villegas and McLaude Guadana, which finished with a forgettable 3-10 win-loss record in Season 101. The Pirates are looking to make a return to the Final Four after missing the semis last season.