CJ Perez is out to prove there’s no such thing as a sophomore jinx for him.
The 26-year-old Perez vowed to do even better in his second season in the PBA shortly upon winning the Rookie of the Year trophy during the annual Leo Awards on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 2018 no. 1 overall pick by Columbian Dyip was the runaway winner of the once-in-a-lifetime award, besting the likes NorthPort’s Robert Bolick, Bobby Ray Parks of TnT Katropa, and Rain or Shine’s Javee Mocon.
Perez was also named in the First Mythical Team selection, becoming the first rookie player to be named in the squad after Calvin Abueva in 2013.
At the same time, he was picked as part of the All-Defensive team, the first rookie player to be included in the list since Ryan Reyes did the trick in 2008.
But the Columbian Dyip guard is just scratching the surface.
“Sana ma-sustain ko yung ganung laro last season,” said Perez. “Ngayong season sana mas maganda pa (ang lalaruin ko), and sana more panalo.”
The award is certainly an added boost to the confidence of the former NCAA MVP from Lyceum.
“Dagdag kumpiyansa yan para sa akin, kasi nakuha ko yung award, tapos yun may Gilas (Pilipinas pa). Nadadagdagan yung gutom ko sa larong basketball,” he said.
“Madaming may gustong kumuha ng award na yun pero sa akin napunta,” Perez added. “Hindi naman nakuha ng madali lang, pinag-hirapan din naman talaga.”
All of it wouldn’t be possible without the support of his family and loved ones.
“Yung family ko hindi sila tumigil ng suporta sa akin kahit minsan up-and-down (tayo). Sinusuportahan pa rin nila ako,” he said.
More than the individual awards, which made him one of the biggest winners during the Leo Awards along with six-time MVP winner June Mar Fajardo, Perez is looking to guide the Dyip to the playoffs this season.
Ibibigay ko lang yung best ko para makakuha ng panalao. Gagawin namin ang lahat para makapasok sa playoffs. Yun muna ang goal namin ngayon,” he added.
“Motivated ako kasi pinangarap ko talagang makapaglaro sa PBA simula nung bata ako. Sobrang saya ako, nandito ako at nakakalaro ng maayos.”
Indeed, the best is yet to come for CJ.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
