It’s like he never left at all.
Paul Harris announced his PBA comeback in a big way as he helped Phoenix Super LPG eke out a thrilling 103-100 victory over Terrafirma in their 2021 Governors’ Cup debut, Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
In the league again after six years or since that stint with Ginebra that lasted for only a game due to a thumb injury, the well-traveled cager made 24 points on a 53-percent clip. alongside 15 rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes.
He made half of his output in the first quarter alone, leading the charge for the Fuel Masters together with floor general Chris Banchero that saw them seize control with a 20-10 advantage six minutes into the game.
And when they lost hold of the lead and mounted the comeback trail, the one-time champion with TNT made his presence felt again. He scored nine the fourth quarter that saw him nail crucial buckets down the stretch.
His foul shots sparked a 9-0 run en route to a 100-94 lead with 2:13 left. And he would also be among those who would repel the Dyip and their own comeback attempt thanks to his free throws in the final seconds.
Head coach Topex Robinson feels blessed to have Harris, who’s now in his fifth tour of duty in Asia’s pioneering pro league — he had his first three with the flagship MVP Group franchise, and then with the Gin Kings.
“Paul is somebody that doesn’t complain,” he said after the match. “Paul is an import that forgets he is an import. Ang mindset is always to get everybody involved. He’s aware of everybody’s presence.
“Actually he doesn’t look for his offense. We try to remind him, ‘Paul, you’re an import. You should be taking your shots.’ But again, he’s a selfless individual and he really rubs off that,” Robinson furthered.
“What he brings to us actually is his energy and his leadership. And again, just the will to win. He’s really been vocal, he’s saying it like he really means it, and he’s really a big, big blessing for us.”
Matthew Wright, meanwhile, calls Harris a perfect fit.
“We feel like we have a great import in Paul who doesn’t need the ball every single time. Instead, he likes to play within the team, not like your traditional import who takes 20 to 30 shots,” said the Phoenix main man.
“He likes to involve the locals and the rest of us. So we feel like he’s a perfect import for us,” he added.
Robinson said that Harris is filled with excitement in his return, and that he’s very much looking forward to seeing and playing in front of Filipino fans again.
“He’s excited because he knows the passion of the Filipino fans and he loves it and he can’t wait to really have fans watching our games. He’s really passionate about it. He rubs off of that,” he said.
“And again, he’s just a gem for us and we’re just happy we have him.”
