Just like everyone else, CJ Perez is getting his updates regarding the status of his impending trade to San Miguel through sports pages.
“Actually, wala pang kumakausap sa akin at nagsabi sa’kin,” the 27-year-old native of Pangasinan told Lyn Olavario of One Sports.
Last Friday, Terrafirma governor Bobby Rosales confirmed that the team is shipping 2020 PBA Best Player of the Conference candidate Perez to San Miguel for Gelo Alolino, Russel Escoto, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, and the eighth overall pick in the 2021 Rookie Draft.
It will be a huge step up for Perez if the trade pushes through.
Perez, who was the top overall pick in the 2018 Draft, has been putting up stellar numbers for the Dyip over the last two years. These did not translate to wins, though, as the Jose Alvarez-owned franchise only compiled a 12-32 record – including a disappointing 1-10 slate inside the PBA bubble last year.
Moving to San Miguel will bring Perez to a title-contending squad.
But for Perez, he is not getting ahead of himself.
“Wala naman. Normal lang. Wala ako nararamdaman. Kung ano ‘yung nararamdaman ko daily, ‘yun pa rin. Bakit naman ako kakabahan? Hindi naman ako kinakabahan,” said Perez, who averaged 21.7 points. 7.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals last year.
“Sa akin lang, player lang ako. Hinihintay lang kung ano ang mangyayari.”
Despite the possibility of having a brighter future, the product of Lyceum is not focusing on it.
Helping keep him busy is his daily grind with Gilas in Inspire Sports Academy. Perez and the rest of the national team will head to Qatar in a couple of weeks for the final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
“Wala akong kontrol talaga. Wala talaga. Ang iniisip ko lang, whatever happens, happens.
“Basta kung ano mangyari talaga, focus lang ako dito at be prepared para maging better player at maging kondisyon. Hindi natin alam kung kailan ‘yung bubble at mag-start ‘yung PBA. Sakto lang nandito rin ako sa Gilas,” he said.
