WHAT a time to be alive for CJ Perez.
Blessings continue to come the NCAA Season 93 MVP's way as he's not only expected to head the 2018 draft class, he just also welcomed his first child.
Baby Ciana Tanisha was born last Monday, giving Perez another reason to go out and prove that he's the undisputed head of the class.
"Sobrang laki ng nadagdag na motivation sa akin kasi hindi lang yung family ko ang iniisip ko, may sarili na rin akong family," he said during the 2018 PBA Gatorade Draft Combine on Wednesday.
Tired as he may be, Perez said one look at his newborn child gives him a new source of energy as he aims to make his family proud, saying: "Nasa puso at isip ko, ipu-push ko yung sarili ko dahil hindi na lang ito para sa akin, para na rin sa family ko."
Perez, 25, is expected to be the top overall selection as Columbian has previously expressed its intention to take the Lyceum product at number one overall.
However, the former Lyceum star knows that being taken at that spot comes with its own set of responsibilities, mainly living up to his billing as the best rookie in the batch.
"Given na yung pressure. Pagdating mo sa PBA, kung nasa top three picks ka, yung expectation ang nakaka-pressure. Kailangan pag nasa top ka, nasa top din ang laro mo. Malaking pressure yun pero kailangan kong paghandaan ito," he said.
Whatever happens, though, Perez is happy to have achieved his lifelong dream of playing in the pro league.
"Excited lang ako. Dream come true ito at ang tagal ko pinangarap yun," he said.
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