IT’S been a case of always a bridesmaid but never a bride’ for CJ Perez as far as the PBA Best Player of the Conference award is concerned.
Hopefully, he’ll finally end up the biggest winner this time.
Perez is again at the forefront of the race for the Commissioner’s Cup BPC award and could only hope the shining plaque would end up in his massive hands this time around.
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Going to the best-of-seven finals, the former No. 1 overall pick of Terrafirma has already closed in on conference leader Christian Standhardinger of Barangay Ginebra.
The Fil-German center remains at No. 1 with 35.7 statistical points, but Perez is lurking closely at second with 35.5 SPS.
With the Beermen dethroning Standhardinger and the Kings behind a 3-0 sweep of their best-of-five semifinals, Perez now looms as the strongest bet to run away with the top individual award for the conference.
He certainly hopes so.
“Dagdag sa kumpiyansa ko yun at sa resume ko. Malaking bagay yan para sa career ko,” said the 30-year-old San Miguel wingman, who had been endorsed by San Miguel teammate and seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo as the rightful BPC winner at this stage.
Since moving up to Asia’s pioneering pro league in 2019, Perez has been a consistent candidate for the BPC award, but always ended up on the losing end.
Now, he’s at it again as he moves closer on finally nailing the elusive award.
Only Standhardinger poses a threat to Perez’s bid as the three other candidates - Arvin Tolentino (Northport), Calvin Oftana (TNT), and Scottie Thompson (Ginebra) - are too far to contend.
Perez of course, is not looking forward to winning it yet as there is an even bigger battle he and the San Miguel Beermen have to settle against the Magnolia Hotshots in the finals.
“I’m not looking for it now. Masyado pang maaga,” said Perez after going for 19 points (7-of-14 from the field), three steals, and two rebounds in the Beermen’s 103-95 win in the series opener.
“Yung championship pa rin yung focus ko,” he added. “Just grateful lang na nakakapag-laro pa rin ako ng ganito and I’m still consistent sa mga ginagawa ko.”
The BPC Award and the Best Import Award will be announced before Game 4 of the SMB-Magnolia finals.
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