Jarin new Lions coach vice Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines - Jamike Jarin has taken over as head coach of the San Bedas Red Lions.

San Beda team manager Jude Roque and Jarin, 44, himself told The STAR of the appointment after the latter met with San Beda Rector-President Fr. Aloysius Maranan, OSB, at the San Beda campus yesterday.

 “Yes, I met with Fr. Rector (Maranan) today (Tuesday) and boss MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) told me two days ago that he just recommended me for the job,” said Jarin, who spent his elementary and high school days at San Beda.

Roque, however, said Jarin will officially take over the team only after the ongoing Champions League.

“Adonis Tierra will handle the team in the Champions League before coach Jamike takes over after the tournament,” said Roque.

Jarin succeeded Boyet Fernandez, who is now with NLEX in the PBA,  becoming  the sixth coach of the Lions in the last decade after Nash Racela, Koy Banal, Frankie Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc and then Fernandez.

It will also be Jarin’s first coaching job in the collegiate level after steering the Ateneo Eaglets to eight UAAP high school championships starting in 1998 and helping Batang Gilas, the national youth squad, make its first ever appearance in the world stage this year.

“It’s a brand-new challenge for me to accept my first college head coaching job and I hope I will not disappoint people who believed in me,” said Jarin.

Jarin will have in his hands the unenviable task of steering San Beda to a historic six-peat next season.

Under Fernandez, the Lions have won the last two of a record-tying five straight crowns after sweeping the Arellano University Chiefs in two games last week.

Jarin also has a San Beda tradition to preserve, being the senior basketball champion in eight of the last nine seasons.

“It will not be easy but I’m optimistic of our chances,” he added.

Jarin said he will employ his defense-first mentality with the Lions.

“Defense has been my calling card since I started coaching,” said Jarin, who also served an assistant coach of the Ateneo seniors team for 11 years as well as a defensive coach at Talk N’ Text in the PBA.

Jarin will inherit a team anchored on Nigerian behemoth Ola Adeogun after Kyle Pascual and twins Anthony and David Semerad.