Jarencio to stay with UST; Barako eyes Toroman

PIDO Jarencio stays on as University of Santo Tomas (UST) head coach as plans to jump into the professional league got aborted after recent negotiations with Barako Bull bogged down.

The latest development led Barako Bull to meet yesterday with Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, who “formally sought a release from his contract” with the San Miguel group on Friday.

“We offered him (Jarencio) the job but he politely turned it down citing his commitment with Petron, and of course UST,” said Raffy Casyao, Barako Bull’s representative to the PBA board.

But Casyao said plans to bring in Toroman, who mentored the Smart Gilas national team for three years, has yet to be finalized.

“It will still take a few more days,”  said Casyao, adding that Barako is also talking with “several other personalities.”

Last December, the Inquirer reported that Jarencio bid farewell to UST, which he had already mentored for seven seasons, following a PBA coaching offer.

But sources said recent negotiations on a three-year deal didn’t work out between Barako Bull and Jarencio, who also works as a Petron assistant coach in the PBA.

Jarencio, who steered UST to the UAAP championship on his coaching debut in 2006, led his alma mater to another title in the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League and a runner-up finish in the last UAAP season.

This development is a huge morale-booster for the boys in yellow and black as they head to the new season with an intact core that is raring to claim the crown behind Jeric Fortuna and last year’s MVP runner-up Karim Abdul.

Before the Barako Bull management met with Toroman yesterday, Jarencio had been the first choice to replace Barako interim coach Bong Ramos. Ramos took over Junel Baculi./inquirer with a report from Jonas Panerio