CJAY Perez has a partial tear in his groin that nearly kept him out of Wednesday’s game of San Miguel against Titan Ultra.
Perez suffered the injury during Sunday’s game against NLEX, although the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference managed to play two minutes and 27 seconds in the blowout 143-105 win over Titan Ultra.
“May partial tear lang sa adductor (groin muscles),” Perez said. “Sabi naman ni Doc. Canlas, depende naman sa akin pero sila coach, they are protecting me para hindi lumala.”
“Therapy lang tapos sabi naman, two weeks,” Perez said on the steps to full recovery.
READ: Jerrick Ahanmisi breaks out for SMB to lead Beermen past Titan
In the 4:27-mark of the second quarter against NLEX, Perez sat on the floor after he felt pain in his groin after taking a three-point shot.
“Pag step ko, biglang may pumitik… Doon ko naramdaman,” Perez said.
Perez is one of the most durable players in the league, as he has yet to miss a game since he was drafted No. 1 by the Terrafirma franchise in 2018.
By virtue of his brief appearance on Wednesday, Perez extended his consecutive games streak to 279, seventh all-time, and second overall among active players behind Mark Barroca of Magnolia with 647, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon.
LA Tenorio is the all-time leader in consecutive games played with 744.
Perez said he takes pride in generally being injury-free and available each and every game, which is why it pained him to be forced to sit the rest of Sunday’s match-up against NLEX..
“Minsan kasi masama rin loob ko na nag-mimiss ako ng games, lalo na dito sa PBA. Kahit nung last game na may tapilok ako, talagang naglaro ako kasi, ewan ko kung bakit ganun, masama loob ko kapag hindi ako nakakalaro,” Perez said.
Prior to the game, Perez is piling up excellent numbers as he led the locals with 24.7 points, excluding the NLEX game where he only had seven points.
“For me, it is what it is. Ganun talaga nangyayari sa player. May hinayang ako. But I will come back soon,” Perez said.
San Miguel’s next game will be against TNT where Perez intends to play, despite the injury. If he sees an appearance in that match on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena, he will tie Dante Gonzalgo at sixth place in the list with 280, according to Mangonon.
In jest, Perez said he hopes that his teammates would help him out in extending his streak of games.
“Kinukulit ko na nga sila (coaches) at sinasabihan ko na ‘yung mga first group para makalaro kami at pati ‘yung third group namin. Siyempre, it’s been awhile na hindi sila nakakalaro and they deserve to play also,” Perez said.
“Mag-uuniform ako at sana maganda uli laruin namin para may chance ako na makapasok."
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