Cjay Perez is doing work for the San Miguel Beermen.
After a tough loss to the TNT Tropang 5G, the Beermen have rattled off back-to-back wins in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, thanks in part to new import Justin Patton. But while the 7-foot reinforcement has played well, Perez has been equally central to the turnaround. It’s no surprise then that the PBA Press Corps named The Predator the league’s Player of the Week for the period of March 31 to April 5. It is Perez’s third such honor this season.
Cjay Perez Beats Out Other Talented Guards
The numbers tell the story. Cjay Perez averaged 23.0 points on 55-percent shooting over the two-game stretch (wins over the Macau Black Knights and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel), adding 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals. He was the unanimous choice over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Andrei Caracut and the NLEX Road Warriors’ Schonny Winston and Kevin Alas.
A Superstar Performance Against a Title Contender
The Predator’s biggest performance came on Easter Sunday against Barangay Ginebra, and it almost did not happen. Perez ran into foul trouble early and was limited in the first half—then scored 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to carry the Beermen to an 85–82 thriller at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. He also set up the pass that found Don Trollano for the go-ahead three in the dying seconds.
“Nakakafrustrate siya pero nag-focus lang ako, nag-stay composed ako, nilaro ko lang laro ko sa second half at nagbunga naman. Grateful ako na nanalo kami,” Perez said.
That is the mark of a player who knows his value. Down early, in foul trouble, and still the one delivering when it mattered most.
A Fitting Recognition
Against Macau earlier in the week, Perez had been more straightforward—a game-high 26 points in a 110–94 win at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Two different kinds of games, same result.
San Miguel made the decision to bring in Patton after dropping two of their first three games with Marcus Lee as import. The move has steadied the ship. But the Beermen’s resurgence is not a one-man story. Cjay Perez, now the third-most decorated Player of the Week recipient this season behind only Converge FiberXers rookie Juan Gomez de Liano’s four nods, is making sure of that.
