Jason Perkins confirmed Sunday afternoon that he will be suiting up for the De La Salle University Green Archers for one last time.
For the first time this off-season, the 23 year old Filipino-American was with the team sporting a La Salle jacket during the Green Archers-Blue Eagles preseason tilt.
First year Green Archers head coach Aldin Ayo shared that even if Perkins had returned, he still has to earn his spot with the team. “I told him that he has to earn his spot just to be fair to the guys who have been training for the past five months,” the NCAA Champion head coach said.
“Siyempre, priority ko sila.”
However, the versatility of Perkins fascinates Ayo as the 6’3 forward can play at the three spot when the Green Archers play big or the five spot when they go small. “Malaking tulong din sa amin yun especially minsan go small kami minsan, minsan bigs naman. Kaya niya maglaro ng three at four, same din with Prince,” he admitted.
“Gusto ko kasi yung players na ganun na small or big just to create mismatches or mandaya sa offense or defense”
Perkins, who confirmed to Tiebreaker Times that he will still play for the Racal Tile Masters in the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, had an up and down with the Tile Masters during the Aspirants Cup.
The Minnesota-raised student-athlete struggled against Raymar Jose and Russel Escoto during Caida’s semifinals series against the Phoenix-FEU Fuel Accelerators. Perkins averaged 8.5 points in the series but fouled out of Game Two resulting to their ouster.
Ayo admitted that the first pick in the 2015 PBA D-League Draft had trimmed down in weight but still needs to work on his strength to survive in the pros. “If you notice, malaki na pinayat niya. Wala kaming kinalaman dun. He is just preparing for the team and nakita niya yung demand,” he said about the stretch forward.
“For me, mas maganda kung pumayat pa ng konte at maging mobile pa. Kung gusto niya maging pro, kelangan niya mag trim down and convert those fats into muscles. Sa pro kasi banggaan kasi dun.”
During the pre-season tournaments, Ben Mbala, Abu Tratter, JBoy Gob, and the recently-recovered Prince Rivero have been getting the bulk of the minutes at the four and five spot. Perkins’ addition creates a logjam at those spots.
“Well, sabi ko nga kung sino nagpapakita sa ensayo, yun ang may chance na maglalaro,” he closed. “[Players like] Mark [Dyke] and Larry [Muyang] are good players but Ben and Abu have improve a lot. JBoy also and si Prince nakakabalik na.”
“But I just keep telling them that lahat sila importante.”
