LOOK up the definition of the word journeyman and chances are Jeff Viernes' face won't be that far.
The super scorer out of St. Clare has carved a reputation as a well-travelled bucket getter, not just here but also overseas, that not even a PBA callup from teams like Phoenix and GlobalPort could keep him grounded in one place.
But at the age of 29, it seems like Viernes is ready to settle down.
And in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, he's taking his first steps in planning for his future as he serves as an assistant coach for the Malaysian men's national basketball team.
"Yes talaga. Mas maganda yung ganito. Alam mo naman yung players, pag natapos na yung career mo sa pagba-basketball, ang bagsak ganito. Eh napaaga sa kin," he chuckled as he works behind head coach Brian Lester and deputy Lee Kheng Thian.
As much as he's envisioned scenarios like this playing out at the twilight of his basketball career, Viernes never thought that it would come this way.
Playing as an import for NS Matrix in 2017 in the Seri Mutiara Cup, the 5-foot-8 guard has endeared himself to the Malaysian crowd that the powers-that-be brought him back the following year before ultimately deciding to keep him for good.
"Natuwa yung big boss namin. Kapag maganda yung performance mo, natutuwa naman yung mga owners. Eh same ang nangyari, maganda pa rin ang performance ko kaya kinausap na niya ako at sabi niya, gusto niya kong mag-stay sa team para tulungan yung mga young players ng Malaysia sa skills," he said.
Viernes eventualy began his sudden ascent to the coaching ladder, first working with NS Matrix's second team before being promoted to the first team where the team won the 2018 MABA/Matrix Agong Cup, giving the club the rights to handle the national team for the next two years.
"Nung last na nag-champion kami, ako na yung first assistant. Ngayon, kasama na ako sa staff," he shared of the stretch of success that led to his installation on Team Malaysia's staff.
But not for one second think that Viernes is done just yet of torching those nets as he's still active on the court, currently suiting up for Batangas Tanduay Athletics in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
"Bago ako pumayag sa kanila, sabi ko nga gusto ko pa rin maglaro. Kaya pinayagan nila ako na pwede ka maglaro. Pero pagka kailangan nila ako, doon ako naka-stay," he said.
His clock, though, is ticking, and Viernes has already taken initial steps on planning for his future coaching career.
"Nilalakad ko na yung license ko at kausap ko na yung SBP. By next year, pag natapos na yun, full time na ko talaga sa coaching. Stop na rin ako sa MPBL siguro," he said, hinting of his eventual retirement as a player.
His globe trotting has also stared to take its toll, Viernes admits.
"Nakakapagod yung biyahe talaga ng sobra. Di lang nila masyadong alam, pero sobrang nakakapagod," he said.
"At least now, na-experience ko na yung being coach. Alam ko na kung gaano kahirap pala magpatakbo ng mga camp pati mga players mo pasaway. Pero at least, nage-enjoy ako. Sobrang nage-enjoy naman ako sa bago kong career as a skills coach and scouting din. Kahit wala akong hilig sa computer ngayon hawak ko laptop na. Ganoon talaga, nababago din talaga ang buhay minsan."
Viernes has always taken that go-getter approach, always on the run to catch that next game.
This one's no different, as he grabs this rare opportunity presented to him but might very well be the one that keeps him in one place for a change.
"Hindi natin alam kung ganoon. Pero kung ganoon yung magiging kapalaran natin, baka nga ito na yun," he said. "Sabi ko nga, kung ano yung opportunity na dumarating, kung ano yung binibigay na blessings, syempre iga-grab ko lang. At least maganda naman yung nangyayari, so hopefully, tuloy-tuloy lang."
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