CJ Perez has been part of numerous Gilas Pilipinas squads.
Back in 2016, he was part of the hastily-formed national team coming off an Olympic Qualifying Tournament campaign. Together with his fellow young guns, that Gilas squad competed in the FIBA Asia Challenge.
Two years later, the 6-foot-2 utility guard was called up once again, this time for the 23 for 2023 Gilas Cadets. Perez did not play a single game in the 2019 Chooks-to-Go Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup since he was also playing for the Lyceum Pirate.
But playing for flag and country is an irreplaceable feeling for the now-25-year-old cager.
“Last na naglaro ako, 2016 pa sa Iran. Yung feeling na nandoon ka, pag-raise pa lang ng flag, pagkanta mo ng Lupang Hinirang, tatayo ang balahibo mo. ‘Pag nasa loob ka, yung energy, yung intensity talaga,” shared Perez.
So when Yeng Guiao called to expand the Gilas Pilipinas pool in the wake of numerous pullouts, he and Robert Bolick made sure to answer the call of duty.
“Sobrang saya ko. Pagka-text pa lang sa akin na sabi ni Ma’am YR [Yvette Ruiz] na pumunta ako ng Monday, umoo ako agad dahil magandang opportunity ito para sa career ko. And siyempre, para makapag-serve sa country,” expressed the NCAA Season 93 Most Valuable Player.
“Minsan lang tayo mabigyan ng pagkakataon na ganito.”
However, he and Bolick will have a tough climb. After all, they are competing against veterans like Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, and Marcio Lassiter to fill Gilas’ backcourt for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
But just as he has done all his life, Perez embraces the challenge. He will give everything he has, to prove that he deserves a spot in the global meet.
“Sinabi ni coach Yeng na open ang slot, ibibigay ko lang yung best ko. And I’ll take it dahil minsan lang mangyari sa buhay ito.”
