Jamike Jarin named new San Beda Red Lions head coach

MANILA, Philippines – National youth team coach and Meralco Bolts assistant coach Jamike Jarin was officially named head coach of 5-time NCAA champions San Beda Red Lions Wednesday, October 29.

San Beda Team Manager Jude Roque confirmed the news to Rappler saying Jarin was officially welcomed by team officials in a courtesy meeting Wednesday morning.

“Coach Jamike was already met by the Rector President of the school and he was accepted as the new head coach,” Roque said in a phone interview. 

Jarin will be replacing Boyet Fernandez who has moved on as head coach of PBA expansion team NLEX Road Warriors. Fernandez, also a 6-time D-League champion coach, led the Red Lions to the last two of its 5 titles. (READ: The Dynasty Continues: San Beda wins 5th straight NCAA title)

Details of Jarin’s tenure and contract have yet to be finalized. 

“That I will find out next week when we have a meeting with boss MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan),” Roque explained. “When it comes to the contracts we need to discuss it with the school officials and with boss MVP. So I don’t know yet.”

Roque said he will meet with Jarin later this week to iron out details but Jarin will likely take over early next year as part of a transition period.

According to Roque, Fernandez’s first assistant coach Adonis Tierra will handle the Red Lions for the upcoming Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL), which begins its Elite 8 competitions on November 13. 

“So that there’s transition, we figure that it’s better for someone from the coaching staff to handle the team,” Roque said.

“And then I will suggest for coach Jamike to be involved already either as a consultant or an assistant coach for coach Adonis. And then right after the PCCL he can already take over.” 

Jarin is known for being a mentor to Ateneo’s senior and junior basketball teams and as the national youth team coach who led the Philippine Under-16 team to a second place finish behind China in the 2013 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship. 

While nothing has been decided yet, Roque says Jarin will likely have to give up his coaching stint with the nationals due to conflicts of schedule, though it looks like Jarin will continue his assistant coaching duties with the Bolts in the PBA. 

Jarin is an alumnus of San Beda and finished his grade school and high school education there. He and coach Benjie Paras are high school batchmates in 1986, which could also mean, according to Roque, that Paras will stay on as part of the coaching staff. He also spent two years of college in San Beda before transferring to Far Eastern University for a medical course.

The Red Lions just completed a 5-peat last October 22 when they swept the Arellano Chiefs in the Finals. They are hoping to extend their dynasty to a 6-peat with Jarin next season.

“From what I know of his coaching style, he likes the up-tempo style and he likes pressure from the backcourt,” Roque shared what he thinks Jarin will bring to the team. 

“So I think that will be his style for the Red Lions, and I think the Red Lions can adapt to any style. It will be good, it will bring in a lot of energy for the team. It might help our campaign for a 6-peat next year.” – Rappler.com