AS promised, friendship has taken the backseat in the PBA Philippine Cup finals.
CJay Perez buried San Miguel’s dagger trey against TNT over the outstretched arms of good pal Calvin Oftana to cap his one-man demolition job in the homestretch of the defending champion’s dramatic 95-89 win in Game 3, Sunday night before a huge crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
It’s no secret Perez and Oftana – along with Arvin Tolentino when he was still in the league – developed a strong bonding together be it in the PBA or with the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national team.
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And being that close, the San Miguel star admitted his friend certainly knows his tendencies inside the court.
“Kabisado ako ni Calvin. Alam niya da-drive ako,” said Perez, recalling the moments that led to his second clutch play in the final 12 seconds that gave the Beermen a four-point spread.
“So itinigil ko na lang sa three-point (area) and luckily pumasok naman yung tira.”
Retired Rain or Shine guard Gabe Norwood, part of the TV panel along with Carlo Pamintuan, said it was the perfect match up for both teams, with Oftana covering Perez after big man Henry Galinato was a bit too slow to switch on the San Miguel gunner earlier that resulted in the clutch four-point shot.
"That’s the match up you want, if you’re TNT. Oftana guarding the ball in that situation," said Norwood. "But another huge shot from CJ Perez."
Perez finished with a team-high 20 points including 17 in the fourth quarter. He was actually scoreless from the three-point line until he nailed that one right in the face of his close friend.
Oftana actually had a big night too, for TNT.
He led the Tropang 5G with 25 points and was 4-of-9 from the three-point region, the last of which came at the final 1:57 mark as TNT closed within 86-84.
This being the finals, the warriors in both Perez and Oftana emerged.
“We compete and good competition naman,” said the 32-year-old Perez. “Dito sa finals, walang kai-kaibigan. Talagang binibigay namin yung best namin.”
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Both Perez and Oftana are constant roommates whenever they’re on the road with Gilas Pilipinas.
“Sa labas ng court oo, mag-kaibigan kami. Pero kapag sa loob ng court, alam naman namin yung trabaho namin.”
Oftana teasingly said they're not actually 'that good' of friends.
“Hindi kami close niyan,” remarked the TNT forward. “Minsan lang kami magkahiwalay.”
And in the finals, the two are expected to go their separate ways for the moment.
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