A Timely Reinforcement
Phoenix Super LPG is set to receive a much-needed boost as star forward Jason Perkins makes his season debut in the PBA Philippine Cup, following a two-game absence due to flu-like symptoms. Coach Jamike Jarin confirmed Perkins is ready to play in their upcoming matchup against the defending champion Meralco Bolts at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“We got Perkins back,” said Jarin. “It’s going to be tough [against Meralco], but at least we’ll finally have a full lineup.”
Perkins’ return couldn’t have come at a better time. The Fuel Masters are currently 0-2 after back-to-back losses to Terrafirma and Converge, and the team is in desperate need of a morale boost and on-court stability. While his presence won’t fix all of Phoenix’s issues, it does address one of the team’s biggest concerns—frontline depth and scoring.
Managing Perkins’ Absence with Caution
According to Jarin, Perkins’ initial absence was precautionary.
“We didn’t want to risk a relapse,” he explained. “He was weak, and we didn’t want to risk spreading it to the team or even to the opponents.”
With team doctors and management opting for caution, Phoenix had to soldier on without one of its most dependable contributors. Now that Perkins is back and fully healthy, Phoenix is finally set to field its complete roster for the first time this conference.
Beyond Perkins: Shooting Woes Haunt Phoenix
However, Jarin emphasized that the team’s problems go far deeper than just one player’s absence.
“Our main issue is we can’t shoot,” he admitted bluntly.
Phoenix’s shooting has been dismal from the three-point line. In their opening game against Terrafirma, they went 3-of-20 from long range, and they followed that with a 3-of-25 performance against Converge. Those numbers reflect a major issue with floor spacing and offensive rhythm.
“It’s not coaching,” Jarin admitted. “I don’t know if it’s bad luck or what, but we just haven’t been able to hit shots—open or challenged.”
With or without Perkins, the Fuel Masters will need to drastically improve their perimeter shooting if they hope to compete with elite teams like Meralco.
Meralco Also Looks to Bounce Back
Phoenix isn’t the only team coming off a disappointing result. Meralco is eager to return to the win column after a tough 110-98 loss to San Miguel Beer. That defeat ended the Bolts’ early unbeaten run, dropping them to 2-1 in the standings.
Despite the loss, Meralco showed flashes of brilliance. After falling behind by 17 points in the first half, they rallied to cut the deficit to just two points early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Bolts, San Miguel’s late-game surge proved too much to handle.
With Chris Newsome leading the charge and big men like Raymond Almazan, Brandon Bates, and Cliff Hodge in the frontcourt rotation, Meralco remains a formidable opponent—particularly now that they’re motivated to avenge their recent defeat.
Key Matchup: Perkins vs Meralco’s Frontline
The showdown between Jason Perkins and Meralco’s interior defenders could be a defining factor in the game. Expect Almazan, Hodge, and Bates to take turns trying to limit Perkins’ production in the post and from mid-range.
Whether Phoenix can finally find their rhythm or Meralco bounces back with a vengeance, Sunday’s clash promises to be an intense, high-stakes battle for early-season positioning.