CJ Perez in Ateneo Blue Eagles jersey. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
CJ Perez’ stay in Ateneo didn’t really take that long.
A source bared that the 22-year-old forward is set to leave Katipunan and once again reunite with former coach Topex Robinson in Lyceum.
Perez only played two games for the blue-and-white in the 2016 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup before leaving the Blue Eagles’ nest due to academic deficiencies.
The source said that Perez, the highly touted Ateneo transferee who was set to finally suit up for the Blue Eagles this UAAP Season 79, was one of the five players which will be ineligible this upcoming season after failing to make the grades.
The 6-foot-2 winger came to Ateneo after a two-year stint with San Sebastian, where he averaged 17.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in his sophomore year back in NCAA Season 89.
Perez sat out for two years as required for transferees from NCAA to UAAP, and may once again get redshirted another year if the move pushes through, making him available for 2017 season at the earliest.
For his part, Robinson said that he has always been in close contact with Perez.
“Even when he was in Ateneo, we still talk. We still call each other up,” the Pirates coach said. “Fingers-crossed.”
But the soft-spoken mentor remains non-committal on the move but is keeping his hopes up as the development is sure to bolster a struggling Lyceum program.
“I hope that the basketball gods will be good to me. As of now, it’s until I see him in Intramuros, and not in Katipunan, that’s the only time I’ll comment,” he said. “Sino bang may ayaw kay CJ? He’s a born winner.
Any team na makukuha sya would really get a big boost, not just to the team, but to the whole program.”
“Hopefully, he’s gonna be a Pirate soon.”