SMART/Chooks-to-Go Player of the Week CJ Perez leads Lyceum by example

As the Lyceum of the Philippines University draw near to a historic elimination round sweep in the NCAA Season 93 Seniors Basketball tournament, Pirates ace CJ Perez is starting to make it look easy and natural.

Perez was once again at the forefront of their attack as the Pirates scratched win number 16 with an 81-69 victory over the Letran Knights on Friday.

The Hong Kong-born student-athlete scored 10 of his 24 points in the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter to repeatedly turn back every rally from the Knights and move two wins away from completing an 18-game elimination round sweep.

For his exploits, he has once again bagged the Chooks-to-Go/SMART Sports-NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week Award.

Perez’ effortless destruction of the Knights earned him the praises of head coach Topex Robinson, but for his longtime mentor, it’s the attitude of his prized wingman that truly stands out.

“Conscious siya ‘pag nagkamali siya. He knows na nagkamali siya. One thing I like about him, and I always try to brag about my coaches in Alaska, he will never blame yung kasama,” said Robinson.

“Hindi siya yung, ‘pag hindi pinasahan magagalit. He knows that kumbaga, he knows (he needs) the support of everyone.”

It is the second time Perez bagged the weekly award handed out by sports scribes after being the first player to be feted the individual recognition this season.

To do so, Perez edged out impressive performances from Mapua’s Andoy Estrella, San Beda’s Javee Mocon, Jose Rizal’s Jed Mendoza, and Arellano’s Kent Salado