Coach Pido Jarencio and his staff are expected to return for NorthPort’s Sept. 15 showdown against TNT in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Team manager Bonnie Tan confirmed that Jarencio and company have rejoined the team in their Pampanga quarters after they spent the previous week recovering from COVID-19.
“They are back in Pampanga now,” Tan said Tuesday, Sept. 14 through text.
It was Tan who manned the sidelines in all of the victories over Blackwater, Terrafirma and NLEX that put NorthPort in sixth place in the standings with a 4-3 record.
Robert Bolick led the charge in the Batang Pier, and was rewarded by being named Player of the Week by the PBA Press Corps.
Though Tan is also known for steering Letran to the NCAA championship back in 2019, he also got some help from a few NorthPort players like veteran Sean Anthony who even drew up during one huddle.
Tan also said that Jarencio and assistants Rensy Bajar, Jeff Napa and Jaren Jarencio also did their work in mapping out NorthPort’s preparations while on quarantine.
In a story posted on the PBA’s official site, Jarencio put light on the big test his team will face in his return. “Ang gandang welcome back sa akin, TNT agad,” he said.