Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2023
Jason Andre Cahigas Perkins was born in Shakopee, Minnesota on September 20, 1992. His parents were Herbert A. Perkins (1957-2012) and Jennifer Cahigas Perkins-Boddie, who was born in Bolinao, a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines.
At 6’3”, Jason graduated from Shakopee High School in 2011. He is a Filipino-African American semi-professional basketball player who played for the Caida Tiles Masters in the PBA Developmental League.
Jason is the youngest of three siblings. His father was African American, while his mother, is a Filipina. He’s been into sports since he was little, playing both football and basketball.
While attending Shakopee High School, Jason suited up for the Sabers boys’ basketball team. He also played tight end (TE) for the school’s varsity football program.
During his senior year, Jason averaged 16.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, and signed a letter of intent to play for the Valley City State University in April 2011. He also played AAU ball when he was a teenager, suiting up for a squad called Pump N Run, where he got his moniker Hefty Lefty.
After graduating, Perkins attended Valley City State University to play basketball for the Vikings. Valley City State University is in Valley City, a town of 6,500 people located along the Sheyenne River, is a 45-minute commute from Fargo. Jason played for one year there. In 2012, he decided to go to the Philippines to study upon the prodding’s of his mother, who had always encouraged him to live in her native land.
Jason was initially recruited by former San Beda head coach Frankie Lim to play for the Red Lions, but left following Lim’s resignation. Then he was invited by De La Salle University officials to visit the campus, and soon after, he joined the practice with the Green Archers. He served his one-year residency before finally suiting up for the Green Archers in the 2013 UAAP season. In his rookie season, he averaged 12.7 points per game on 52.8% field goals and 9.6 rebounds per game and was instrumental in La Salle’s title conquest.
Jason played professional basketball for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The Archers went on to win the championship that season. It was tough being away from family. His father died. But he realized that the move was a good one.
“The style of play here is very physical. The referees let a lot of calls go so it gets very chippy,” Perkins said. “There’s a lot of elbows and punches but I’m used to it now.”
“I had to chase my dream by myself although it was good for me because I learned to grow independent and pay more attention to the blessings I’ve received in life,” he said. “Right now, I major in sports science as well as business management. I also try to travel and experience as much as possible now. I’ve swam with sharks, climbed mountains, tried parasailing. Since I moved here my days pretty much just consist of school, basketball, and trying to experience as much as I can out of life,” said Jason in an article in the Shakopee Valley News, “Chasing his dream: Jason Perkins playing basketball in the Philippines.”
Jason Andre Cahigas Perkins has a wife, Marga, and in August of 2022 had a daughter, Luna Bella Perkins.
“While I’m trying to get involved with business I would like to become a professional basketball player here in the PBA [Philippines Basketball Association], although I have to go to graduate school first because I promised my mother,” he said.
Bibliography
Abeln, Todd. “Chasing his dream: Jason Perkins playing basketball in the Philippines.” Shakopee Valley News, 29 Dec. 2014.