MANILA – CJ Perez has brought along with him his impressive showing in the last FIBA World Cup all the way to the PBA Governors Cup.
Last year’s No. 1 overall pick is again at the helm of the Dyip’s intense playoffs bid in the hope of finishing his first season in the league with a bang.
Perez is churning out numbers of 23.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.4 steals in seven games last October when Columbian tallied a 3-4 record and be in a strong contention of clinching a berth in the quarterfinals.
His work on both ends of the floor had the 25-year-old guard unanimously earning the PBA Press Corps Rookie of the Month honor.
Perez, who was a revelation for Gilas Pilipinas during the World Cup in China last August, beat out Robert Bolick of NorthPort and Bobby Ray Parks of Blackwater (later traded to TnT Katropa) for the monthly citation.
This is the third Rookie of the Month honor for Perez since the Press Corps began handing out the award at the start of the season. Perez was also cited with the same honor in January and March.
Until he went down with a partial ACL tear that ended a stirring season, Bolick, the third overall pick in 2018, averaged 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in five games with the Batang Pier, who went 2-3 during that stretch.
Parks meanwhile, posted 16.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists as the Elite registered a 2-5 record in that span.
The second overall pick last season was then dealt by Blackwater to TnT in exchange for Don Trollano, Anthony Semerad, and a 2021 first round pick. (PR)
