A new era begins for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
Topex Robinson and the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters have parted ways after working together for five years. In 2017, Robinson joined the young PBA franchise as an assistant coach. Three years later, he got the head coaching job and led the Fuel Masters to the semis of the 2020 Philippine Cup — the team’s best finish to date.
Under Robinson, Phoenix has been a consistent playoff team, but both parties have agreed to walk different paths from here on.
Capable coach in Jamike Jarin
The next chapter of the Fuel Masters will have lead assistant Jamike Jarin moving up as the team’s interim head coach. If you’re not familiar with his work, Jarin is a respected basketball mentor with vast winning experience at different levels.
In the UAAP Junior’s division, he won three titles as the head coach of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets from 2008 to 2010, while helping a young kid that goes by the name of Kiefer Ravena live up to his "Phenom" moniker.
In the collegiate ranks, although he’s had an uneventful stint with the NU Bulldogs, Coach Jamike was able to steer the San Beda Red Lions to winning the NCAA Season 92 championship against the Arellano Chiefs back in 2016.
The best year of his colorful coaching career might be 2010. During this period he won three major titles. As a head coach, as mentioned above, he captured the UAAP junior’s basketball crown with Ateneo. As an assistant, he was part of the Blue Eagles championship team (seniors) and the TNT Tropang Texters squad that conquered the 2010-11 Philippine Cup.
Based on track record alone, it’s safe to say that Topex Robinson has a pretty good successor in Phoenix.
We’ll see in the next conference if the interim tag will be removed from Jamike Jarin’s official designation.