Ayo: Perkins will play final year with La Salle
Forward Jason Perkins (10) sparked La Salle’s second-half charge. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
As if La Salle still needs some more muscle, the Green Archers will welcome back Jason Perkins for its title campaign in UAAP Season 79.
No less than DLSU head coach Aldin Ayo confirmed Perkins’ return.
“He’s back and parang dalawang beses pa lang namin siya naka-practice.”
Perkins will be playing in his final year with La Salle, bolstering an already powerhouse roster bannered by Jeron Teng and Nigerian import Ben Mbala.
The first-year UAAP coach is confident that Perkins will have no problem adjusting with the team, given his experience with this core.
“Si Jason, established na rin yun at makakakuha ng stats yun. Malaking tulong din sa amin yun especially minsan go small kami minsan, minsan bigs naman. Kaya nya maglaro ng three at four, same din with Prince (Rivero). Gusto ko kasi yung players na ganun na small or big just to create mismatches or mandaya sa offense or defense,” said Ayo.
It’s also a plus that Perkins has slimmed down, much to the delight of Ayo.
“If you notice, malaki na ang pinayat niya. Wala kaming kinalaman dun. He is just preparing for the team and nakita niya yung demand,” Ayo said. “For me, mas maganda kung pumayat pa sya ng konti at maging mobile pa. Kung gusto nya maging pro, kelangan nya mag trim down and convert those fats into muscles. Sa pro kasi, banggaan kasi dun.”
The 23-year-old Perkins joins an already loaded frontcourt which features Mbala, Rivero, Abu Tratter, Jboy Gob, Larry Muyang, and Mark Dyke.
Ayo said that the arrival of Perkins poses an interesting race for the big guys in hopes of making it to La Salle’s final roster.
“Sabi ko nga kung sino nagpapakita sa ensayo, yun ang may chance na maglalaro,” he said. “Mark and Larry are good players but Ben and Abu have improved a lot. JBoy also and si Prince, nakakabalik na, but I just keep on telling them na lahat sila importante. They just have to work hard and mano-notice naman namin yun na if they deserve to play, they are going to play.”
For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity.
