Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

CJ Perez on cold spell versus CEU: ‘Pinaghandaan nila talaga ako’


CJ Perez praised the way CEU defended him during the Zark’s-Lyceum Jawbreakers’ clash with the Scorpions Tuesday as it led to a dismal shooting night and ultimately an 85-91 loss that snapped their four-game winning streak.

The six-foot-two guard finished with 18 points, but made just seven of his 20 attempts from the floor. He missed two triples and two freebies in the game’s final three minutes after nailing a trey that made it 84-all with 3:03 left.

“Pinaghandaan nila talaga ako,” said Perez, who also had eight rebounds, after the bout at the Marikina Sports Center.

“Pinaghandaan talaga nila siguro na ako yung titira [sa dulo]. Kailangan ko talaga pagtrabahuhan yun.”

Another factor that contributed to the defeat was the absence of Mike Nzeusseu. The Cameroonian student-athlete suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter and still played until midway of the second, but sat out for good after that.

Without Nzesseu manning the middle, Centro Escolar’s own foreign student-athlete Rodrigue Ebondo feasted, finishing with 33 points on 54 percent shooting along with 20 rebounds, three assists, two steals, anf two blocks.

“Siyempre, si Mike yun e. Madami siyang naitutulong,” said the reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player. “Pero hindi naman pwedeng mado-down na kami ‘pag wala si Mike.”

Asked if this setback was a result of the Pirates’ busy schedule as of late after playing in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League — and eventually emerged as national champions — Perez said that it shouldn’t be an excuse.

“Siguro andun na yun. Pero wala naman sa isip namin yun, na natalo kami dahil pagod kami,” added the 23 for 2023 cadet.

“‘Di kami mageexcuse. Kailangan lang namin matutunan kung paano tapusin yung laro.”

Still, Perez tipped his hat to the ever-competitive Scorpions, who have improved to 3-0 and have become the only undefeated team in this 2018 D-League Aspirant’s Cup.

#ReadMore  Resurgent Adamson forces rubber match over NU

“Mas better lang talaga sila sa amin,” he said. “Dikit naman yung laro, nung end-game lang nagkatalo.

“We learn from it na lang. Great experience yun para sa’min.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

ANTIPOLO — San Miguel has gotten on a winning run since Leo Austria came back following a 115-102 victory over the hard-luck Blackwater in...

Basketball

San Miguel gave Leo Austria the welcome he so deserves following a 106-88 rout of a luckless Terrafirma to snap a two-game losing skid...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Robert Bolick took over and powered NLEX to a 104-99 come-from-behind victory for their third consecutive victory in the PBA Season 49...

Basketball

San Miguel passed its very first test of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup by completing a come-from-behind victory over the upset-seeking Phoenix, 107-104,...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas delivered a dominant performance, routing Hong Kong 93-54 to sweep Window 2 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers on Sunday night...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas has kept the same lineup for its upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifier against New Zealand on Thursday, with Justin Brownlee once...

Basketball

San Miguel suffered its second consecutive loss in the 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) season, falling to P.League+ club Taoyuan, 101-85, in a...

Basketball

Angelo Kouame has rejoined the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. The 6-foot-11 Filipino-Ivorian center, who currently plays for...

Advertisement