Alfredo “Pido” Jarencio is back.
The 58-year-old Jarencio has returned to take care of the coaching chores of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers men’s basketball team in the coming 86th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
School officials announced their decision to get Jarencio on Friday via the university publication, The Varsitarian.
Jarencio returns after a nine-year absence and after a successful seven-year stint with the Growling Tigers.
On his first season as head coach in 2006, he led the Growling Tigers stun the highly favored Ateneo Blue Eagles, 2–1, to win the UAAP Season 69 title.
The Growling Tigers reached the UAAP finals two more times, in 2012, and in 2013, to settle for the runner-up honors.
Jarencio, who is currently the NorthPort Batang Pier team manager in the Philippine Basketball Assocition, quit the UST squad in 2013, after season 76, when UST lost the championship to the La Salle Green Archers.
Members of the Growling Tigers met Jarencio on Friday at the Quadricentennial Pavillion for their first practice session, according to the Varsitarian’s posts.
He replaces Bal David, who coached the Growling Tigers in Season 85.
David left the UST team after the Tigers won only one out of 14 games during his watch.
Two other UAAP squads have new coaches, with La Salle getting Topex Robinson and Far Eastern University bringing in Denok Miranda.