Jimmy Alapag is wasting little time surrounding himself with familiar faces as he begins a new chapter with NLEX, tapping longtime coaching associate Jamike Jarin to join his staff for the upcoming PBA season.
Among the Road Warriors’ coaching group, Jarin stands out as the lone addition personally selected by the newly appointed head coach, highlighting the trust and chemistry the two have developed through years of working together.
Their partnership dates back to their successful stint with TNT, where Jarin served as an assistant coach from 2010 to 2013 while Alapag starred as the team’s floor general.
The connection continued at Meralco after Jarin joined Norman Black’s coaching staff, with both sharing the bench during Alapag’s final season as a professional player in 2015.
Now, that long-standing relationship will continue at NLEX as Alapag assembles a staff he believes can help establish the culture he wants with the Road Warriors.
Jarin is no stranger to head coaching responsibilities. He most recently handled Phoenix Super LPG before Charles Tiu took over the franchise last year.
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Prior to that, he also coached the Phoenix Fuel Masters before stepping away ahead of the PBA Season 50. The veteran mentor likewise built his résumé as a former national youth coach.
His arrival adds another experienced voice to an already established NLEX coaching staff that includes Borgie Hermida, Emman Monfort, Melo Lim, Anton Escolin, Jorge Sison, Woody Co, and veteran Adonis Tierra.
Aside from Jarin’s appointment, the rest of the Road Warriors’ coaching lineup remains unchanged.
Fans got an early glimpse of the revamped coaching staff on Tuesday when both Alapag and Jarin were seen together on the sidelines during NLEX’s tuneup game against Blackwater at the Epsilon Chi Center inside the University of the Philippines grounds.
The appointment also marks Jarin’s return to the MVP Group after a nine-year absence, bringing him back to an organization where he previously enjoyed some of the most significant chapters of his coaching career.
Alapag, 48, was officially named NLEX’s new head coach on Monday night, and his first major personnel move reflects a preference for continuity, familiarity, and trusted experience as he begins building the Road Warriors in his own image.
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