(UPDATE) UST Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio didn't mince words as he fired back at his bashers after his team snapped a three-game skid in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Sunday.
Jarencio's Growling Tigers defeated the FEU Tamaraws, 79-70, to stay in fourth place with a 5-6 win-loss card.
"I have so many bashers. I love you all. I hope you all die. That's it. For me, we're just going to keep on playing and fighting. This team will continue to fight," said Jarencio.
The 60-year-old tactician also expressed disappointment to what he perceived as UST's fair-weathered fans whom he said only cheer them on when they're winning.
The outspoken coach seemed to be frustrated with that kind of support especially after his Growling Tigers played at their own den at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, which was not filled to the rafters as chunks of seats were vacant on October 19.
The rare UAAP home game saw UST lose to the visiting Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, 64-67.
"My only regret is that our real UST fans are always there win or lose but only a few attended today since we've been losing but when we're winning, they're all there," said Jarencio.
"To our real fans, keep watching us. If you're not real, it's okay. If only five thousand fans watched us today, that's fine with us. I have nothing to say anymore. I might say something worse. I don't know. Thank you."
That's how Jarencio ended his post-game presser which actually started on a rather good note.
"First of all, good evening to all of you. It's a total team effort. Everyone contributed to this win. We were on a three-game skid so we needed to recover. The boys worked hard and Kyle Paranada had a breakout game," started Jarencio, the coach who led UST to its last men's title in 2006.
Do or die is the motto now for the Growling Tigers as they try to keep themselves in the thick of the Final Four race.
"It's a do-or-die mindset for us in these last four games. The boys really worked hard to win today."