Jeff Viernes
Personal information
Born (1989-05-18) May 18, 1989
Isabela, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1]
Listed weight143 lb (65 kg)[1]
Career information
CollegeMetro Manila College (2009)
University of Manila (2009–2013)
St. Claire College–Caloocan (2012–2013)
PBA draft2013: Undrafted
Playing career2016–present
PositionPoint guard
Career history
As player:
2016Singapore Slingers
2017Phoenix Fuel Masters
2017NS Matrix
2018Hi-Tech Bangkok City
2018GlobalPort Batang Pier
2018–2020Batangas City Athletics
2022–2023NS Matrix
2023Sarangani Marlins
As coach:
2022–2023NS Matrix
2022–2023Malaysia
Career highlights and awards

Jeff Alvin Dumelod Viernes (born May 18, 1989) is a Filipino professional basketball player and coach. He last played for the Sarangani Marlins of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

Early life

Viernes[2] was born in May 18, 1989, in the province of Isabela.[3] He hails from the town of Delfin Albano.[4] He was inspired to take up basketball after watching Michael Jordan figure for the Chicago Bulls against the Utah Jazz in the Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.[2]

Playing career

Collegiate career

Viernes started his playing career for Metro Manila College in 2009[2] before moving to the University of Manila to play for the UM Hawks of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU).[5] In 2009, Viernes was named Rookie of the Year.[6] In 2011, he was named season MVP. However Viernes moved to St. Claire College in Caloocan the following year after UM's decision to take a leave of absence from the NAASCU.[7] He then suited up for the St. Clare College Saints.[8] He would graduate from St. Clare by 2013.[9]

Amateur career

After graduation, Viernes played for the Boracay Rum Waves in the PBA D-League in 2013.[10] He would enter the November draft for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) but withdrew.[11] He would return to the D-League and play for Racal Motors (later renamed KeraMix Mixers)[12][13][14] He would also play for the Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants helping the team win the 2016 PCBL title.[15][16] The Singapore Slingers would include him in their roster on a trial basis for the 2016 Merlion Cup, potentially signing him for the upcoming 2016–17 ABL season.[17]

Professional career

Phoenix Fuel Masters

Viernes would break into the PBA, joining the Phoenix Fuel Masters in 2017. However his stint was cut short after he took part in a ligang labas.[18] He played under Hobe Macway Travel in the Republica Cup under a pseudonym and without sanction from his PBA club.[19] He was fined and requested his release from the team.[19] He only played one game for Phoenix.[20]

NS Matrix and Hi-Tech Bangkok City

Malaysian club NS Matrix would invite Viernes to play for them in the 2017 Seri Mutiara Cup.[21][22] He would return to play in the 2018 edition although Matrix failed to progress to the semifinal with Viernes sustaining an injury.[23] He would also ply his trade in Thailand as part of Hi-Tech Bangkok City.[24][25]

Return to the PBA D-League

After his stint in Thailand, Viernes would return to the Philippines to play for the Che'Lu Bar & Grill Revellers of the PBA D-League. He would aid the team in reaching the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup finals. However he would not take part in the final series against Zark's–Lyceum after he was signed by a PBA team.[26]

GlobalPort Batang Pier

Viernes would return to the PBA after GlobalPort Batang Pier signed him in the lead up to the 2018 PBA Commissioner's Cup which started in April.[20][26] However he was quickly replaced after featuring in two games after GlobalPort brought in Paolo Javelona to the team in May 8.[27]

Return to Che'Lu

After his brief second PBA stint, Viernes would return to the Revellers.[28] He would lead the team to a runner-up finish in the 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup.[29] Despite his team losing to the Go For Gold Scratchers in the final, Viernes was named as conference MVP becoming the first ex-professional to be given the distinction.[28]

MPBL (2018–present)

From 2018 to 2020, Viernes played in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He played for the Batangas City Athletics at the 2018–19[30] and the 2019–20 season. During this time, he is already concurrently serving as a coach for the Malaysia national team.[31] He was named as part of Team South for the 2020 Lakan All-Star Game. He was instrumental in Team South's 126-122 win over Team North. He forced the game into overtime and scored the last points for the South via free throw which led to him being named as the All-Star Game MVP.[32] On June 3, 2023, Viernes would score 50 points against the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, breaking the single-game scoring record.

Coaching career

Viernes' stint as coach traces back to his playing time with Malaysian club NS Matrix in 2017. NS Matrix tapped his service the following year in the same tournament.[33] He later became the team's skills coach. He started from being part of the coaching staff of Matrix's second team before rising to the first team. He was part of the Matrix squad which won the 2018 MABA/Matrix Agong Cup.[34] Upon recommendation of NS Matrix, Viernes was made an assistant coach for the Malaysia national team under Australian head coach Brian Lester. The team played at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games where it finished sixth.[33]

Viernes would become the head coach of Malaysia. His coaching debut was at the 2022 FilBasket International Championship, an international club tournament where the team played under the name "Harimau Malaysia".[35] The team won all of its six games in that tournament and defeated fellow Malaysian team Kuala Lumpur Aseel to clinch the title.[33]

His first FIBA stint with Malaysia was at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup pre-qualifiers in November 2022.[36] He resigned in March 2023.[37]

PBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

[38]

Season-by-season averages

Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 Phoenix 36.2.750.500.500.01.0.0.02.7
2017–18 NorthPort 311.3.200––.71.0.3.0.7
Career 68.8.475.250.250.41.0.2.01.7

References

  1. 1 2 "Jeff Alvin Viernes". 3x3 Play. FIBA. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Episcope, Aivan Denzel (March 6, 2020). "Nadapa, bumangon, kampeon!" [Stumbled, rose up, became a champion!]. Abante Tonite (in Filipino). Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Viernes heats up on a Thursday as Che'Lu draws first blood". Tiebreaker Times. August 9, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Hawks claw Titans in NAASCU tiff". The Philippine Star. August 23, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  5. ↑ Reyes, Marc Anthony (October 5, 2011). "2 Naascu crowns for University of Manila cagers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  6. ↑ "SSC-Cavite completes mission in 2009 NAASCU caging". GMA News. September 16, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  7. ↑ Reyes, Marc Anthony (August 2, 2012). "Former UM stars power St. Clare past STI, 70-68". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ "PCCL: Viernes lifts St. Clare to an upset of UE". GMA News. November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  9. ↑ Payo, Jasmine (July 23, 2013). "'Finals rematch' kicks off Naascu 2013 season". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  10. ↑ Flores, Celest (March 14, 2013). "Viernes, Boracay Rum frustrate Teng, Informatics in OT". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  11. ↑ "PBA draft today". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2022. Mar Villahermosa and Jeff Viernes withdrew at the last minute
  12. ↑ "Viernes lifts Racal Motors over Jumbo Plastic". ABS-CBN News. December 2, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  13. ↑ Panerio, Jonas (November 5, 2015). "Viernes powers Jumbo Plastic over Cagayan Valley". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  14. ↑ Terrado, Reuben (March 18, 2015). "Cebuana Lhuillier, two other teams gun for early lead in D-League Foundation Cup". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Jumbo Plastic sumandal kay Viernes para pagharian ang PCBL Chairman's Cup kontra sa Mighty Sports" [Jumbo Plastic leans on Viernes to win the PCBL Chairman’s Cup against Mighty Sports]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). The Philippine Star. May 29, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  16. ↑ Terrado, Reuben (May 29, 2016). "Two-time PCBL MVP Jeff Viernes chases PBA dream, hopeful his day will come". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  17. ↑ Iau, Jean (September 8, 2016). "Basketball: Singapore Slingers to use Merlion Cup to test potential foreign signing Jeff Viernes". The Straits Times. SPH Media Limited, Co. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  18. ↑ Sacamos, Karlo (April 17, 2017). "Rookie Jeff Viernes hit with sanctions by Phoenix after playing in 'ligang labas' game". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  19. 1 2 Panerio, Jonas (April 17, 2017). "Remorseful Jeff Viernes secures release from Phoenix after 'ligang labas' mess". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  20. 1 2 Lagunzad, Jerome (April 22, 2018). "PBA: Revellers lose Viernes to GlobalPort". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  21. ↑ Lee, Seng Foo (April 14, 2017). "NS Matrix sink Seri Mutiara Cup defending champions". Stadium Astro. Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  22. ↑ Bacnis, Justine (December 6, 2019). "Jeff Viernes already preparing for next stage of career as Malaysia coach". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Malaysia Matrix fails to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2018 Seri Mutiara Cup". 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  24. ↑ Terrado, Reuben (April 10, 2018). "Jeff Viernes keeps focus on D-League, mum on PBA plans after return from Thailand league stint". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  25. ↑ Bacnis, Justine (April 10, 2018). "Balikbayan Jeff Viernes brings import mindset to Che'Lu-San Sebastian". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  26. 1 2 Terrado, Reuben (April 25, 2018). "GlobalPort call-up Jeff Viernes a source of inspiration for former Che'Lu-SSC teammates". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  27. ↑ Li, Matthew (June 7, 2018). "Life goes on for Jeff Viernes". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  28. 1 2 Bacnis, Justine (August 21, 2018). "Jeff Viernes becomes first ex-pro to win D-League MVP". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  29. ↑ "PBA D-League: Go For Gold clinches Foundation Cup crown". ESPN.com. August 23, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  30. ↑ Saldejano, Ivan Stewart (October 31, 2018). "Viernes helps Batangas City prevail over San Juan". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  31. ↑ Tupas, Cedelf (August 22, 2019). "No rest day for Viernes, Batangas standout who doubles as coach of Malaysian club". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  32. ↑ Leongson, Randolph (February 14, 2020). "Jeff Viernes named MVP as South wins in OT in MPBL All-Star game". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  33. 1 2 3 Verora, Levi Joshua Jr. (November 3, 2022). "From uneven career in Manila, Jeff Viernes carves out path to become Malaysia basketball coach". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  34. ↑ Leongson, Randolph (December 6, 2019). "Journeyman Jeff Viernes shares knowledge as part of Malaysia's coaching staff". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Malaysian squads take flight, Filipino clubs fall in Filbasket opener". Dugout Philippines. October 25, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  36. ↑ Li, Matthew (November 10, 2022). "FIBA: Thailand spoils Jeff Viernes' Malaysia coaching debut". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  37. ↑ "New coach Kian Ann targets top four finish despite major challenges". The Star. April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023. The men's team have to adapt to a new coach, Yong Kian Ann (pic), who has taken over the reins following the resignation of Jeff Viernes last month.
  38. ↑ Real GM
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