FORMAL practices involving former San Beda coach Jamike Jarin and the National University Bulldogs men’s basketball team will start this January.
Jarin confirmed this a few days after he quit as chief mentor of the San Beda Red Lions.
“That’s going to be in January,” said Jarin.
The school is currently finalizing the details of Jarin’s new role with the Bulldogs.
Jarin took on his new job after Eric Altamirano tendered his resignation after six seasons two weeks ago.
He quit the team while plans were being finalized on plans to have the NU Bulldogs go into a rebuilding mode after their campaign in season 79 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament concluded.
Jarin coached the Red Lions when they won the season 92 National Collegiate Athletic Association title and the 2015 Fil-Oil Cup and PCCL crowns.
The Bulldogs won a UAAP crown for the first time in 60 years under Altamirano’s watch.
Disappointment over the result of their campaign in the past few seasons forced them to go a new direction next year.
NU ended their campaign with 53-77 loss to the Adamson Falcons, a fifth place finish and a 5-9 win-loss record.
Among the names being floated as a possible successor of Jarin with the Red Lions are Boyet Fernandez, Louie Alas and Jimmy Alapag.
Fernandez steered the Mendiola-based dribblers to the 2014 NCAA title before he left to coach NLEX in the PBA where he spent two seasons.
He was replaced by Yeng Guiao, making him eligible to retake the San Beda job.
Alas, for his part, is currently one of Alaska coach Alex Compton’s assistants and is also a legitimate candidate for the job with his NCAA championship experience.
Alapag, on the other hand, has just retired from the pros this year and could be on line for his first ever coaching job with the Lions.