China stint a crowning glory for rookie Perez

Topex Robinson has always felt that his former Lyceum ward CJ Perez was meant for great things.

But he doesn’t mind being surprised once in a while.

“Never in my wildest dreams that I would see him [that way] on that stage,” Robinson told a handful of reporters on Thursday.

Robinson thought Perez’s strong 15-point debut in a loss to Italy was “just chance.” But Perez tallied 16 against Serbia and 17 in an overtime defeat to Angola.

“It’s a crowning glory for him,” Robinson said. “I’m excited for what the future holds for him.”

The soft-spoken college coach, who also serves as a deputy to Louie Alas at Phoenix Fuel, has been both coach and life mentor to Perez.

“We always talk about being a blessing to others. He’s now in a situation to do just that—influence a lot of people. And he should do so since nobody really thought that he would come out like that,” he said.

Asked about Perez’s late blunder, in regulation of what seemed to be a winnable game against Angola, Robinson said: “I always look at the brighter picture. Those things actually happen. It’s a blessing in disguise.”

“I’m just proud of how much he has achieved thus far,” he said.