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Jason Perkins. PBA PICTURES
Jamike Jarin has not fully appreciated winning the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coaching position when asked about the challenges that await Phoenix in the next 48 hours.
“NLEX is one of the hottest teams right now,” Jarin said after the Fuel Masters’ 108-97 win over NorthPort Batang Pier in a battle of winless teams in the Governor’s Cup on Thursday.
“He won yesterday, he came back. But we will enjoy this for the moment,” added the former UAAP SMA and NCAA champion mentor who was assigned to take pictures after Topex Robinson left for La Salle.
But Jarin and the Fuel Masters are definitely thinking about the Road Warriors and import Jonathon Simmons, who will play his last PBA game before heading to China to continue his professional career.
Simmons promises to leave a lasting impression and give NLEX a 4-0 start at the expense of Phoenix on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Unless, of course, Phoenix can carry out his own plan and ruin Simmons’ despedida (farewell) party.
Jarin was upbeat during the postgame press conference after his tenure started with losses to TNT, Blackwater and San Miguel Beer, where he led his team to bounce back in all of those matches.
Adding to the early struggles is the absence of key player Javee Mocon, who is still nursing a knee injury and could miss at least a week or two.
However, on Thursday, the Fuel Masters found enough hot fire to build a 26-point lead before thwarting any hopes of a rally by a Batang Pier side that remained winless in the conference finals of the season.
Imports Du’Vaughn Maxwell and Jason Perkins scored 26 points apiece RJ Jazul and Sean Manganti were also key factors for the Fuel Masters, and gave Jarin his breakthrough moment in the big leagues.
“I like Coach Jamike,” Perkins said. “He’s a very positive coach, a fun coach. Even when he loses, he doesn’t go out and blame his players. So after a loss, we look at him.
Phoenix led as high as 26 in the third quarter at 79-53, but had to weather the big NorthPort storm when fielded reserves like Kent Salado and JM Calma to import backstop Marcus Weathers.
Salado’s layup put Batang Pier within five before the Fuel Masters were able to pull away again.
“It has to be a team effort for everyone,” Jarin said. “It was very difficult, especially when we lost Javee Mocon to injury. So we are very happy with everyone’s performance, especially in this game.
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