Get that degree.
That was the simple yet meaningful advice given by San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua to CJ Perez, encouraging the incoming third-year pro to finish his studies even if he’s been successful thus far in his career.
The 27-year-old is a Business Management major in Lyceum and still has a few semesters left. And the boss wants him to take it up, citing that attending classes have become more manageable for players like him in this time.
Classes have become virtual since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic struck last year, and the return of traditional face-to-face lessons remains uncertain due to the circumstances brought about by the ongoing crisis.
“Nung nag-usap kami ni CJ Perez, diniin ko talaga sa kanya, ‘Ilang sem ka na lang, tapusin mo yan. Grumaduate ka lalo na ngayon, Zoom-Zoom na lang,'” he shared in The Chasedown, Saturday.
“Tapusin mo pag-aaral mo. Napaka-importante niyan.”
Chua had that talk with the 2019 PBA Rookie of the Year when he became the newest addition to San Miguel Beer earlier this year. The former no. 1 pick landed on the league’s winningest franchise via trade from Terrafirma.
Expectations have shot up for the star-studded Beermen since his arrival, including the revival of Grand Slam talks. But it’s clear that Chua doesn’t just care about what his players are doing on the hardwood.
Thus, his advice to the NCAA Season 93 MVP.
“Sinabi ko sa kanya eh. Sabi ko, ‘May mga anak ka na ba?’ Sabi niya, ‘Meron na ho boss.’ ‘Okay lang ba hindi sila grumaduate?’ ‘Ay hindi ho pwede.’ ‘O eh ba’t ikaw okay ka lang?,” said Chua, a product of University of Santo Tomas.
And Perez, Chua said, vowed to do so.
“Nangako naman sa’kin ‘yung bata na tatapusin niya ang kanyang pag-aaral.”
