MANILA – Jason Perkins was heavily-favored to capture the Rookie of the Year award for the 2017-2018 PBA Season following his impressive showing for the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
Based on the data released by the league at the end of the season, the Filipino-American forward was a top contender for the award after tallying 32.2 statistical points (SPs).
Fellow former De La Salle University Green Archer Jeron Teng of Alaska Aces was the only threat to Perkins’ ROY coronation but he is way behind in numbers with just 18.7 SPs.
“I’m really lucky to have the teammates that keep giving me different lessons even when I play bad or something goes wrong,” Perkins said. “They’re always in my ear even when I go back to the bench.”
“For sure, I’m getting better, I’m learning not only as a basketball player but also as a person. They’re giving me life lessons so it’s good. Definitely getting better,” he added.
Perkins emerged as the frontrunner to bag the award with Ilonggos Kiefer Ravena of NLEX Road Warriors and San Miguel Beermen’s Paul Zamar and San Miguel Beermen Christian Standhardinger disqualified.
Ravena, Zamar and Standhardinger were all ineligible for the ROY award with them unable to play the required 70 percent of their team’s games in the 2017-2018 PBA Season.
Ravena’s rookie season was halted with an 18-month suspension slapped on him by the FIBA, while Zamar and Standhardinger were both absent in the Philippine Cup due to their commitments with ASEAN Basketball League.
The Rookie of the Year winner, as well as the Most Valuable Player awardee, will be announced during the PBA Leo Awards, which will be held during the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup opener on Jan. 13./PN
