Winning the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Most Valuable Player award has only made CJ Perez hungrier.
The 24-year-old swingman, who was crowned on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig, has made it known that his eyes are now set on the prize of prizes that is the conference championship.
“Siyempre, mas maganda yung MVP ka na, champion ka pa,” said Perez.
“Mas masaya.”
Perez now has the chance to achieve such, as he and Zark’s-Lyceum Jawbreakers kept themselves afloat in the Finals by beating Che’lu-San Sebastian Revellers, 98-90, in Game Two.
The reigning NCAA MVP showcased his MVP-form in the life-saving win, top-billing for the Jawbreakers with 15 points spiked by four treys, along with seven rebounds and four assists.
Asked if pressure is now on for him as he looks to realize his dreams of being an MVP and a champion at the same time, the Gilas Pilipinas cadet remains unfazed.
Photo from PBA Images
“Actually di ako napre-pressure dun kasi nakuha ko yung MVP, so mas gaganahan ka talaga maglaro,” he said.
But aside from attaining his personal goals, Perez is also keen on helping Zark’s-Lyceum make history by becoming the lowest-ranked team in D-League history to become champions.
“Magandang opportunity yun, so iga-grab na lang din namin,” said the cager out of Pangasinan. “Pero siyempre di naman ibibigay ng kabilang team yung championship ng ganun kadali.
“So kailangan namin paghirapan talaga.”
