Coaches see bright future in PBA for NCAA stars CJ Perez, Robert Bolick

The past two seasons of the NCAA saw two players define the league under their respective images—San Beda’s Robert Bolick and Lyceum’s CJ Perez.

Both had stellar resumes in Season 93 with Lyceum’s Perez winning the MVP with Bolick taking the bigger trophy leading San Beda to the title over the Pirates.

And as their two-year rivalry draws to a close in the championship round of Season 94, their respective coaches started to bid farewell to the two stars.

“I’m sure these two players will play hard, tough, and both will make sure that his team will win,” said San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez. “It’s just unfortunate that only one team will win.”

Perez and Bolick also had similar career paths that led them to the top of the NCAA as both bounced around schools in the earlier years of their respective collegiate eligibility.

Bolick was a benchwarmer for De La Salle in his first two years in college before moving to San Beda where he transformed himself as a bona fide star.

Perez, on the other hand, was already putting up lofty numbers at the start of his collegiate career when he put up 17.2 points and 7.3 rebounds for San Sebastian before Ateneo swooped down on him.

The Season 93 NCAA MVP, however, played just two games for Ateneo in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup before leaving Blue Eagles’ roost due to academic deficiencies.

Goodbyes, though, are just the beginning of a new chapter and the two rivals are expected to be in the top three of this year’s PBA Draft.

“The future is bright for them,” said Pirates head coach Topex Robinson. “CJ is my player, Robert and I always communicate, and the PBA will be loaded with quality players in Robert and CJ.”

“I’m sure their PBA careers will flourish,” said Fernandez. “CJ will fit in there and the same as Robert. They just have to stay grounded and continue the things they do now and they should improve as well.”