CJ PEREZ is oozing with excitement as he braces himself to be working the ball with six-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.
He is also looking forward to getting to know his new teammates at San Miguel Beer and hear straight from Head Coach Leo Austria about his role on the team.
But Perez still has to wait some time. Team training is still prohibited and besides, he has yet to hear from Austria or any of his teammates since he was traded from Terrafirma some two weeks ago.
“It’s going to be exciting to play alongside June Mar,” Perez told BusinessMirror in perhaps his first interview since the trade. “But I still need to know what my role in my team is. I am willing to play any roles under Coach Leo.”
Perez couldn’t be reached while the Philippine Basketball Association’s trade committee scrutinize the trade that sent him from the Dyip to the Beermen in exchange for Russel Escoto, Gelo Alolino and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and San Miguel Beer’s first round (No. 8) pick in next month’s Rookie Draft and first round pick in next year’s draft.
He told BusinessMirror his sim card accidentally broke and had to secure a replacement.
But the 2019 Rookie of the Year said he expects himself and his new teammates to be virtualy wearing bullseye signs on their backs.
“That’s expected, we will be the target of all teams,” he said. “But I am really sure we’re going to prepare for it seriously.”
The Beermen failed to extend their domination of the all-Filipino conference in last season’s Philippine Cup at the Clark bubble where Perez was No. 1 in scoring with a 24.3-point average in 11 games he complimented with 6.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists norms.
Perez admitted he was surprised about the trade. “I was surprised but that is what it is,” he said.
The 27-year-old prolific player said that he aims to help San Miguel Beer regain not only the Philippine Cup which Barangay Ginebra San Miguel won, but to a more ambitious grand slam.
“As long as we’re going to be healthy all the time, I think everything is achievable,” he said. “I will follow their lead and for sure we’re going to work hard for that grand slam.”
San Miguel Beer looked poised at sweeping all three conferences in 2017 and 2019 seasons, but couldn’t achieve the feat its 1989 team under Coach Norman Black achieved.
Perez was with the national pool inside the Inspire Sports Academy bubble in Calamba, Laguna. The team, however, had to break camp after the International Basketball Federation Asia Cup Qualifiers set from February 18 to 22 in Doha, Qatar, was canceled.
“There are things beyond our control,” said the 6-foot-3 Perez, who momentarily left the Laguna bubble to renew his passport. “It’s okay, I got a fresh 10 years with my new passport.”
The break allowed Perez to go home to his native Rizal, Nueva Ecija, and reunite with his family.
Read full article on BusinessMirror
