CHICAGO - A high-profile job, one of only 12 in the Philippines, will belong to Jamike Jarin in the foreseeable future.
"I signed last week," Jarin told me of the three-year extension he inked to stay with the Phoenix Fuel Masters of the PBA, making his rise to the mountaintop of his profession complete.
Already an accomplished coach in the juniors and collegiate ranks, Jarin took his act to the professional ranks with the Meralco Bolts in 2015.
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But it's at Phoenix where his star shined the most.
Starting as an assistant in 2020, Jamike took over as interim Phoenix head coach last January 2023 when Topex Robinson left to take a lucrative coaching position at De La Salle.
After his promotion as permanent head coach last October, Jarin reciprocated the confidence entrusted to him by leading the franchise to a semifinals appearance in the Commissioner's Cup.
NOW HE REAPS HIS JUST REWARDS.
"I'm happy," he told SPIN.ph on Wednesday morning.
Jarin revealed that his newly-minted contract is guaranteed for two years with a team option on the third. He politely declined to disclose the terms.
His previous deal was set to expire this May. And Phoenix was determined not to let him get away.
It's a bittersweet moment for Jarin. On one hand he is ecstatic about the personal milestone. On the other hand, he is bummed by the Fuel Masters' sluggish 1-3 start to the ongoing Philippine Cup.
"There's a lot of work left to do, not just in this conference but beyond," he said.
Jarin noted that their 1-3 record is not necessarily an accurate depiction of his team's capabilities.
"Although our players have stepped up, It's been a challenge to compete without our three starters."
RIGHTING THE SHIP.
Star forward Jason Perkins has been nursing a knee injury. Tyler Tio suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain to open this conference while Raul Soyud has been dealing with a pesky hamstring issue.
Perkins has since been cleared to play and once Tio and Soyud get the nod from the medical staff, Jarin is cautiously optimistic that Phoenix can pick up some Ws in hopes of getting back in position for another playoffs run.
The Fuel Masters don't play again until this Sunday against powerhouse San Miguel Beer.
So there's a little time for him to ponder and celebrate the personal triumph of having finally established himself as a tenured PBA head coach.
And to accomplish that in an independent team setting is even more impressive.
Take a bow, coach Jamike.
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