Jason plans for future
Now that Phoenix forward Jason Perkins is entering his fourth PBA season with a wife and baby, he’s started to appreciate the value of investing for the future. “I should’ve listened more when La Salle and the PBA held lectures on finance, how to take care of your money,” he chuckled during a conversation the other day. “My regret is I should’ve saved more than I spent in college. But I’m learning. I’ve put my money in blue-chip stocks and I’m looking to invest in real estate. I set aside a fund for emergency and hope to build that up. I also want to finish my studies at La Salle and get a degree. I’ve got 20 more units to go and depending on the load I take, I could finish this year. I’m doing online studies.”
Perkins, 28, said he couldn’t be more blessed. He’s got a lovely wife Marga and a beautiful baby girl Luna Bella who was born last August. He just signed a three-year max renewal with Phoenix. He has the highest respect for team governor Atty. Raymond Zorilla, team manager Paolo Bugia, head coach Topex Robinson, assistant coach Jamike Jarin, the rest of the coaching staff and his teammates. In the last conference, Phoenix was a win away from clinching a finals berth but lost two in a row in going the distance with TNT in the semifinals. In the elims, Phoenix tied eventual champion Ginebra for first place. The showing established the Super LPG Fuel Masters as a team on the cusp of ascending the throne.
“I can’t complain,” said Perkins about his 2 1/2 month experience in the bubble. “We continued to get our salaries, the food was free and we focused only on basketball. It was so good that I think I gained 10 pounds because I couldn’t stay away from the ice cream buffet.” On the court, Perkins registered career highs in minutes (37.6), rebounds (8.6), assists (2.5), three-point FG percentage (39.5) and points (17.8). The numbers justified his inclusion in the race for the Most Improved Player award. Although he lost out to Prince Caperal for the honor, Perkins said just to be nominated was a thrill as he congratulated the Ginebra frontliner for deserving the award.
“I know of some Fil-Am players who’re back in the US, one’s working at Target, another at UPS and still another in a coffee shop,” he said. “Times are hard. I’m lucky to be in the PBA. At the height of the pandemic when we couldn’t play, we still received our salaries and benefits. So you just do your best to practice and play your hardest to give back.”
Perkins said it’s just a matter of time before the PBA achieves a high level of parity. In the Clark bubble, two teams tied for first and five were logjammed for third before the playoffs. “The coming draft is loaded,” he said. “It’ll mean more good players in the PBA. One guy I’m expecting to make an impact is Aljun Melecio. He’s got game, he’s quick, he shoots an incredible range, he plays hard with a big heart, he has a high basketball IQ, he’s a great teammate. He’s perfect for any team looking for a point guard, maybe to play behind a veteran who can mentor him.”