CJ Perez showed how lethal a four-point shot in the endgame could be as he used as much to help San Miguel overcome Phoenix for a successful start to their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup campaign on Wednesday night.
The Beermen were clinging to a one-point lead until the one-time BPC dealt the biggest of blows with less than a minute left: a side-step quadruple to create some space from the defense of Javee Mocon to make it a 110-105 edge.
It was his first and only try from that range and it all came about because of the situation, as the shot clock, at the time, was winding down.
“Kinapalan ko na lang ‘yung mukha ko,” he told reporters moments after their 111-107 win at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Kasi patapos na ‘yung shot clock eh. So lucky na pumasok,” continued Perez, who finished with 21 points and four rebounds in the victory.
(C) PBA Images
Fans inside the Big Dome were in awe but it should no longer come as a surprise that the star guard hit from 27 feet away with much confidence.
In just the last All-Star Game in Bacolod, Perez went 7-of-11 from four as Team Mark Barroca fought back from as many as 31 points and forced Team Japeth Aguilar to settle for a 140-all tie. He finished with a game-high 39 points.
By doing so, Perez tied Magnolia star Paul Lee for the most four-pointers in an All-Star Game. The veteran gunner shot 7-of-13 in the 2023 edition in Iloilo.
Of course, the All-Star is totally different from regular conference games, and Perez himself knows that he can’t — and will not — be shooting that much. But if the opportunity presents itself, why not, right?
“Papagalitan ako ni Coach Jorge ‘pag ganun kadami [tulad ng] sa All-Star,” the Gilas Pilipinas stalwart said in between chuckles.
“Kasi tira ka lang nang tira, walang magagalit. Pero kung may opportunity naman, ititira ko rin talaga,” Perez added.
