PBA: Perkins returns as Phoenix hands Meralco another beating

Jason Perkins (with ball) finishes with 19 points. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

The return of Jason Perkins on Sunday proved to be a welcome sight for Phoenix as it finally entered the win column of the PBA Philippine Cup after two straight losses.

“He’s a very good player and even more as a person, so he brings a lot to the team,” said coach Jamike Jarin of his bruising forward after the Fuel Masters caught a big fish in the defending champion Meralco Bolts with a 109-97 win at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Perkins finished with 19 points and five rebounds in the upset triumph after an illness forced him to the sidelines when the Fuel Masters opened their campaign.

And his absence was severely felt as Phoenix was handed a stinging loss by Terrafirma before dropping another against Converge the previous Sunday.

While it allowed rookie Kai Ballungay to pick up the slack in both matches, and was impressive on both ends, Perkins was sorely missed.

“He plays the big, plays the perimeter and plays defense. He’s an overall player,” Jarin said. “We’re happy that he’s playing and he’s with us.”

Ricci’s career-high

It wasn’t just Perkins who was instrumental in the Fuel Masters’ dominant showing against the Bolts.

Ricci Rivero posted a career-high 20 points, 14 of which came in the first quarter when he helped set the tone in Phoenix grabbing a huge lead and never looking back.

Tyler Tio also had his share with a game-high 22, while Ballungay added 11 points and eight rebounds.

Jarin said it was the first time Phoenix was at full strength, though the momentum gained from this result may simmer as it enters a 13-day break. Phoenix won’t be playing until April 26 with a trip to Zamboanga City to face Magnolia.

Phoenix led by a high of 26, a gap that proved to be too much for Meralco, which after a 2-0 start has lost two in a row.

The Bolts will have some soul-searching to do after a skid that began last Wednesday against the San Miguel Beermen at Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Their next game is on April 27 with a climb to Ynares Center in Antipolo City to take on the Rain or Shine ElastoPainters.

Chris Newsome was one of six players in double figures for Meralco with 18 points before fouling out, while Raymar Jose continues to show some signs of becoming a prominent part of the rotation with 12 points and a career-best 17 rebounds.

Those numbers, however, could not translate into a win for the Bolts. INQ