CJ Perez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
CJ Perez admitted he was really looking forward to making his debut for Lyceum on Monday against his former team Ateneo in the 2017 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.
“I was really excited for this game. When I arrived here, I was really excited to play Ateneo,” Perez said in Filipino after the Pirates’ 90-89 escape act over the Blue Eagles.
Perez has every reason to feel giddy.
The 23-year-old Perez had a brief stay with Ateneo due to academic deficiencies. He spent his first two years in college with San Sebastian.
But luckily for him, he found a new home in Lyceum where head coach Topex Robinson welcomed him with open arms as he hopes to revive his collegiate basketball career with the Pirates.
Perez vows to give his all after getting another chance in basketball.
“I’m motivated to play for my teammates, for my coaches. I don’t mind what’s being said on the outside. All I’m thinking is how we’ll perform better. And today, we all engaged and did what coach told us to do,” Perez said.
Things look promising early on with Perez firing 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals in his first game.
“The good thing about this team is CJ is one of our best players but he’s always the same as the other guys. CJ is gonna win games, he’s gonna lose games for us, but so will the other players. Again, it’s always going to be a collective effort for us,” he said.
“It’s just gonna make us a better team. We’re gonna make mistakes but it’s for our growth, and hopefully, we continue to have this winning culture. It’s something that obviously, the whole LPU community is hoping for a long time.”