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Tag: CJ Perez

  • “I’m honored and grateful”: CJ Perez on joining the elite PBA 5,000-point club 

    “I’m honored and grateful”: CJ Perez on joining the elite PBA 5,000-point club 

    CJ Perez continues to solidify his status as one of the most vital pieces in the San Miguel Beermen’s lineup, combining scoring consistency with all-around impact in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

     

    The explosive guard-forward once again played a key role in helping the San Miguel Beermen return to the win column, contributing to a hard-fought 98-94 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday, April 19, at the Ynares Center Antipolo.

     

    Although his stat line of 13 points, nine rebounds, and two assists may not fully capture his overall influence on the game, Perez delivered a historic milestone late in the contest. With just nine seconds remaining, he converted a layup that not only helped seal the win but also pushed him past the 5,000-point mark in his PBA career.

     

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    The achievement officially placed Perez among the league’s elite scorers, further cementing his reputation as one of the most reliable offensive weapons in Philippine basketball.

     

    Entering the game needing just 12 points to reach the milestone, Perez reached the mark in fitting fashion—staying aggressive and focused on team success first, while the individual honor came naturally within the flow of the game.

     

    “Pang-ilang taon ko na ba ngayon, seven? I’m honored and grateful na nakarating ako dito and we know naman since rookie year ko na I’m a scorer so I’m happy. Actually struggle talaga today parang medyo may gigil kasi yun nga, kailangan namin manalo. Pero hindi naman ako na-pressure sa 5k points. Talagang just play our game,” Perez said in the postmatch press conference.

    Now 32 years old, Perez becomes the 102nd player in PBA history to reach at least 5,000 career points, a testament to both his longevity and scoring efficiency since entering the league. He also becomes the 14th player in San Miguel franchise history to achieve the milestone, further linking his name with some of the organization’s greatest legends.

     

    Among active players, Perez is only the 11th to join the exclusive club and the 97th Filipino local player overall, underscoring how rare and significant the achievement is in the context of the league’s long and storied history.

     

    Beyond the personal milestone, Perez emphasized the importance of the victory itself, especially as San Miguel continues to search for consistency in the Commissioner’s Cup. The Beermen, currently sitting in eighth place with a 4-4 record, have struggled to meet their usual championship standards, making every win crucial in their push up the standings.

     

    Perez’s leadership has become even more important amid roster adjustments and evolving team dynamics, particularly with the recent changes in their import situation. His ability to contribute in multiple areas—scoring, rebounding, and facilitating—has helped stabilize the Beermen during a challenging stretch.

     

    With renewed momentum, San Miguel is now focused on building consistency as the elimination round progresses. The coaching staff has repeatedly stressed the importance of sustaining effort and execution across full games if they are to reassert themselves as legitimate title contenders.

     

    The Beermen will look to carry their momentum forward when they face the Blackwater Bossing on Wednesday, April 22, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The matchup is expected to serve as another important test of their form and chemistry as they continue their push for a higher position in the standings.

     

    For Perez, however, the focus remains clear—keep winning, keep improving, and let the milestones come naturally as San Miguel works its way back into championship contention.

     

     

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  • CJ Perez powers San Miguel’s turnaround, earns PBA Player of the Week nod

    CJ Perez powers San Miguel’s turnaround, earns PBA Player of the Week nod

    CJ Perez is starting to look like the spark San Miguel needed to steady itself after an uneven start to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

     

    As the Beermen begin to settle into a new rhythm behind import Justin Patton, Perez has emerged as the local force helping turn close calls and corrections into actual wins — and that impact was enough to earn him the latest PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honor.

     

    The veteran swingman was recognized for the period of March 31 to April 5 after helping San Miguel put together back-to-back victories, a timely response for a team that had spent the opening stretch of the conference trying to regain its footing.

     

    And while Patton’s arrival has naturally drawn much of the attention, Perez’s role in the turnaround has been just as important.

     

    Over San Miguel’s wins against the Macau Black Knights and Barangay Ginebra, Perez averaged 23.0 points on 55-percent shooting, along with 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals — numbers that reflected not just scoring production, but his all-around involvement in the Beermen’s recovery.

     

    His biggest moment came on Easter Sunday in San Miguel’s gritty 85-82 win over Ginebra. After being held back by early foul trouble and going scoreless in the first half, Perez responded with the kind of takeover performance that reminded everyone why he remains one of the league’s most dangerous momentum players. 

     

    He scored 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter alone, helping fuel the Beermen’s comeback from 15 points down.

     

    “Nakakafrustrate siya pero nag-focus lang ako, nag-stay composed ako, nilaro ko lang laro ko sa second half at nagbunga naman. Grateful ako na nanalo kami,” Perez said.

     

    That response said plenty about where San Miguel is beginning to find its edge.

     

    The Beermen have not exactly looked dominant yet, but they have started to show signs of a team rediscovering how to close games — and Perez has been at the center of that shift, whether by scoring, defending, or making the right play late.

     

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    One of those plays ended up deciding the Ginebra game. With the score tied in the closing seconds, Perez came up with the offensive rebound and then delivered the kick-out pass that led to Don Trollano’s game-winning three-pointer, a sequence that may have summed up his recent stretch better than any stat line could.

     

    That same aggression was also there in San Miguel’s earlier 110-94 win over Macau, where Perez poured in a game-high 26 points to help the Beermen secure another much-needed result.

    Taken together, those performances made him the clear choice for the weekly citation.

     

    Perez was the unanimous selection by the scribes regularly covering the PBA beat, beating out Rain or Shine’s Andrei Caracut and NLEX standouts Schonny Winston and Kevin Alas for the award.

     

    It also marked the third time this season that Perez has claimed the weekly honor, placing him just behind Converge rookie Juan Gomez de Liano, who has already collected four.

     

    More than the award itself, though, Perez’s recent run feels significant because of what it may signal for San Miguel moving forward.

     

    The Beermen made a major adjustment earlier in the conference when they brought in the 7-foot-1 Patton in place of Marcus Lee after dropping two of their first three games. That move was meant to stabilize the team, but roster changes only go so far if the core local stars do not respond with urgency.

     

    Perez has done exactly that. He has helped bridge the transition, giving San Miguel not only another scorer but also a player capable of shifting the energy of a game when the Beermen need it most.

     

    And if this stretch is any indication, San Miguel’s climb back into form may not just be about a new import. It may also be about CJ Perez starting to take over again.

     

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  • CJ Perez urges San Miguel to raise the bar as TNT’s early blitz levels finals

    CJ Perez urges San Miguel to raise the bar as TNT’s early blitz levels finals

    San Miguel Beer has been here before — bruised, humbled, but far from broken.

     

    After watching their 2–1 Finals lead dissolve in a stunning 110–87 blowout at the hands of TNT Tropang 5G, CJ Perez made it clear that the Beermen’s biggest challenge heading into Game 5 isn’t strategy, but matching fire with fire.

     

    TNT’s response to its Game 3 heartbreak was immediate and overwhelming. From the opening tip, the Tropang 5G played as if the series depended on every possession, torching San Miguel’s defense with a scorching 67-percent shooting clip in the first quarter and ballooning the margin to as many as 35 points.

     

    By the time the Beermen tried to claw back, the damage was irreversible.

     

    “Sobrang laki na (ng hahabulin), so mahirap na talaga, lalo na Talk ‘N Text yung kalaban, so move on kami sa next game. Hopefully makuha namin yung panalo, kasi mahirap talaga kalaban TNT lalo na sa mga ganitong series,” Perez said, choosing reflection over frustration.

     

    For Perez, the lesson from Game 4 was blunt: TNT didn’t reinvent itself — it simply played harder, earlier.

     

     

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    “Actually, wala naman silang bagong ginawa eh,” Perez said. “Talagang yung physicality nandun pa rin, yung energy nila, yun lang naman talaga. Wala naman silang masyadong binago sa ginagawa nila.”

     

    “It’s just us na hindi kami naka-adjust,” he added. “Hindi namin nabigay yung effort namin ng maaga.”

     

    That lack of urgency showed even from San Miguel’s emotional leader. Coming off his Game 3 heroics — where he flipped the contest with seven clutch points in two possessions — Perez tried to set the tone early in Game 4, scoring six points in the opening quarter.

     

    But as TNT’s waves kept coming, Perez faded, finishing with just 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting and four turnovers in nearly 34 minutes — a quiet night by his standards in a game that demanded defiance.

     

    Now, with the Finals reset into a best-of-three and Game 5 shifting to the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Perez knows the margins will only shrink.

     

    “Palapit ng palapit, syempre magiging mas intense pa yan. It’s up to us kung paano kami magre-respond sa every adjustment, sa physicality na ibibigay ng TNT,” he said.

     

    For San Miguel, the question is no longer about experience or pedigree — those are givens. The real test is whether the Beermen can match TNT’s urgency from the opening possession, not after the deficit has already grown. 

     

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  • “The loss is on us”: CJ Perez on San Miguel’s Game 4 loss to TNT

    “The loss is on us”: CJ Perez on San Miguel’s Game 4 loss to TNT

    Three nights after a collapse that lingered heavily over their title hopes, TNT Tropang 5G stormed back into the PBA Finals with urgency, purpose, and unmistakable force—making sure San Miguel Beer felt the response from the opening seconds of Game 4.

     

    From the opening tip Wednesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, TNT played like a team determined to erase the memory of its Game 3 letdown. The Tropang 5G came out firing on both ends, ripping off a blistering 13-0 run that immediately seized control and stunned the Beermen. By the end of the first quarter, TNT had already built a commanding 35-18 advantage, leaving San Miguel scrambling to regroup.

     

    Any hopes of a Beermen response quickly dissolved in the second quarter. TNT continued to push the tempo, space the floor, and capitalize on every defensive breakdown, piling on baskets in transition and the half court. The lead swelled to a staggering 65-40 at halftime, effectively draining the intensity from what was expected to be a pivotal swing game in the Finals.

     

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    San Miguel searched for answers after the break, but none came. TNT’s defensive pressure remained relentless, while its offense continued to hum with efficiency and confidence. At one point, the Tropang 5G’s lead ballooned to as many as 35 points, turning the contest into a rout and shifting the focus from survival to damage control.

     

    By the final buzzer, TNT had secured a dominant 110-87 victory—one that not only restored momentum but also reset the race-to-four Finals at 2-2. What once looked like a potential turning point for San Miguel instead became a full-blown momentum swing, effectively transforming the championship series into a best-of-three showdown.

    After the loss, San Miguel star guard CJ Perez did not mince words in assessing his team’s performance, pointing to their inability to match TNT’s intensity and execution on both ends of the floor.

     

    “The loss is on us. It was a really bad start for us. There was no effort in defense and offense and they had a really good start. That was the problem. In defense, offense, nothing went right,” Perez said in the postmatch press conference.

     

    Perez himself struggled to find rhythm in Game 4, finishing with just 11 points while converting only four of his 15 shot attempts. The usually explosive guard was unable to spark a Beermen comeback as TNT consistently disrupted San Miguel’s offensive flow.

     

    Despite the lopsided result, Perez noted that TNT did not drastically alter its approach from previous games, instead relying on familiar strengths.

     

    “They didn’t do anything new. Their physicality and energy were still there, that was it. They didn’t change much,” he added.

     

    With the series now tied, Perez acknowledged the urgency facing San Miguel as the Finals shift to Antipolo for Game 5, scheduled for Friday, January 30, at the Ynares Center. The 32-year-old emphasized the importance of responding better to TNT’s physical style and in-game adjustments as the championship draws closer.

     

    “We will move on to the next game. Things will be more intense as we get nearer to the title. It’s up to us how we will respond to every adjustment and physicality of TNT,” Perez concluded.

    As the Finals enter their decisive stretch, momentum has clearly swung back to TNT—but with both teams now standing on equal footing, the margin for error has all but disappeared heading into a crucial Game 5.

     

     

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  • CJ Perez turns MOA into his stage as San Miguel steals Game 3 from TNT 

    CJ Perez turns MOA into his stage as San Miguel steals Game 3 from TNT 

    Just when it looked like TNT had finally wrestled control of the night, CJ Perez decided the Finals still belonged to him.

     

    In a Game 3 that swung wildly by the quarter, Perez unleashed one of the most ruthless closing acts of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals, pouring in 17 of his 20 points in the fourth to drag San Miguel Beer past TNT, 95–89, and into a 2–1 series lead before a loud Sunday crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

     

    San Miguel had already shown its teeth early, storming to a 33–16 first-quarter lead, only to lose the plot completely in the second. TNT punched back with a stunning 31–11 run, flipping the game on its head and heading into halftime up 50–44, with momentum firmly in Tropang 5G hands.

     

    The fourth quarter turned into a pressure cooker. After SMB let an 86–79 cushion evaporate, TNT briefly looked ready to seize full control. Rey Nambatac’s three with 1:17 left pushed TNT ahead, and moments later, a San Miguel shot-clock violation followed by Henry Galinato’s dunk gave the Tropang 5G an 89–86 edge with under a minute remaining.

     

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    That was when Perez went hunting.

     

    The former Finals MVP buried a massive four-pointer to wipe out TNT’s lead, then calmly drilled another triple to stretch San Miguel’s advantage to 93–89 with 12.3 seconds left, flipping desperation onto the other bench. TNT chased a miracle four to force overtime, but Jordan Heading’s attempt came up empty. Marcio Lassiter sealed the escape with ice-cold free throws in the final seconds.

     

    Behind Perez’s late explosion, Don Trollano chipped in 19 points, while June Mar Fajardo authored another monster night with 16 points, 27 rebounds, and three blocks, anchoring the Beermen through every swing of momentum.

     

    TNT had its chances. Calvin Oftana’s 25 points, including a late three that cut the deficit to two, kept the Tropang 5G alive deep into crunch time. But when the game demanded a closer, San Miguel had one ready to swing—and he didn’t miss.

     

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  • San Miguel’s CJ Perez named PBA Player of the Week for January 14 to 16

    San Miguel’s CJ Perez named PBA Player of the Week for January 14 to 16

    In a sport where momentum can shift in the blink of an eye, CJ Perez didn’t just seize it—he owned it.

     

    The San Miguel Beer guard made his intentions clear from the opening tip-off. From the moment his first shots swished through the net, Perez appeared to realize that something extraordinary was unfolding. By the end of the first quarter, the PBA had witnessed a scoring display that not only carried his team but also etched his name into the record books.

     

    On Friday, January 16, Perez turned the opening quarter of Game 6 against Barangay Ginebra at the Araneta Coliseum into a historic highlight reel. The Beermen cruised to a 101-88 victory, securing their spot in the PBA Philippine Cup finals for a much-anticipated rematch against TNT Tropang Giga.

     

    A three-time PBA scoring champion, Perez started his scoring rampage with a jaw-dropping 30 points in the first quarter alone, shooting a perfect 12-of-12 from the field. He finished the night with a career-high 41 points, solidifying his status as the driving force behind San Miguel’s triumph.

     

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    But it wasn’t merely the sheer volume of his scoring that captured attention—it was the way he turned a single quarter into a milestone-laden masterpiece.

    Perez’s blazing start shattered multiple PBA records, including:

    • Most points scored in an opening quarter (local or import) 
    • Most points scored in a playoff quarter 
    • Most field goals made in a quarter without a miss 

    The 30-point quarter also tied him with Bong Alvarez for the second-most points scored in a single quarter by a local player, trailing only Allan Caidic’s legendary 39-point outburst in 1991. The comparison is no accident; Perez’s performance evoked memories of his Terrafirma days, when he scored a career-high 39 points in a single game back in 2019.

     

    For his exceptional showing, Perez was named PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for January 14 to 16, averaging 30.5 points per game on 64 percent shooting from the field. He beat out fellow San Miguel teammate Don Trollano and TNT Tropang Giga’s Jordan Heading to earn unanimous recognition from the scribes covering Asia’s oldest professional basketball league.

     

    “Nung na-shoot ko yung una, pangalawa, pangatlo, pag-apat, parang tinira ko na lang, pumapasok. Doon pumapasok yung kumpiyansa. And nakikita ko naman sila coach sa bench, talagang tiwalang tiwala. Pag tira ko pa lang, nakikita ko ‘yung mukha nila, hindi sila nakasimangot,” Perez said of his phenomenal night.

     

    He also credited his team’s defensive effort for keeping the Ginebra offense in check. “Sobrang grateful lang na pumasok nang maaga yung mga tira namin, at maganda yung depensa namin,” he added.

     

    The veteran guard now shifts his focus to the PBA Philippine Cup finals, where San Miguel will face TNT Tropang Giga. Perez is eyeing his fourth PBA championship and hopes to carry the same intensity and precision from his historic quarter into the finals series. Game 1 is set for Wednesday, January 21, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, where all eyes will be on Perez to see if he can replicate his record-setting form on the league’s biggest stage.

     

    As the finals approach, one thing is clear: when CJ Perez gets hot, he doesn’t just score points—he writes history.

     

     

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  • CJ Perez shatters multiple PBA records in unforgettable Game 6 explosion

    CJ Perez shatters multiple PBA records in unforgettable Game 6 explosion

    In a sport where momentum is a living, breathing thing, CJ Perez didn’t just seize it—he owned it.

    The San Miguel Beer guard didn’t wait for the game to warm up. 

     

    From the moment his first shots swished through the net, Perez seemed to realize he was about to produce something special. What followed was a performance that didn’t just win a semifinal series—it rewrote the record books.

     

    On Friday, January 16, Perez turned the opening quarter into a highlight reel, delivering a historic explosion that propelled the Beermen into the PBA Philippine Cup finals with a 101-88 Game 6 victory over Barangay Ginebra at the Araneta Coliseum.

     

    A three-time scoring champion, Perez went on a scoring rampage that began with 30 points in the first quarter alone. He shot a flawless 12-of-12 in that period and finished with a career-high 41 points, becoming the main reason San Miguel is headed for a rematch with TNT in the All-Filipino finals.

     

    But it wasn’t just the volume of his scoring that stood out—it was how quickly he turned the quarter into a milestone-making moment.

     

    Perez’s blazing start produced multiple PBA records, including:

    • Most points scored in an opening quarter (local or import) 
    • Most points scored in a playoff quarter 
    • Most field goals made in a quarter without a miss 

    Those feats were confirmed by league chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.

     

    Perez’s 30-point quarter also tied him with Bong Alvarez for second-most points scored in a quarter by a local, trailing only Allan Caidic’s legendary 39-point quarter from 1991.

     

    The comparison isn’t accidental—Perez’s scoring outburst felt like a flashback to his Terrafirma days, when he produced a career-high 39 points in a single game back in 2019.

     

    “It was the same feeling. It felt like I was not going to miss. I’m so happy to have this kind of game for San Miguel,” Perez said. 

     

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    His opening sequence was an unstoppable blend of aggression and precision. Perez began with three straight layups, then stepped back and nailed three consecutive triples, including a daring four-point attempt that sailed over RJ Abarrientos’ outstretched hand and sank cleanly.

     

    The quarter ended with Perez finishing the period with a double-pump layup over Norbert Torres—capping a stretch in which he outscored the entire Ginebra lineup. San Miguel surged to a 39-15 lead, a cushion that proved too large for the Gin Kings to erase.

     

    Perez might have scored even more had foul trouble not interrupted his rhythm. He picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter and spent much of the period on the bench, but coach Leo Austria still made it clear just how much he trusted his star.

     

    “If he did not get into foul trouble, I would have played him the entire game. That is how I trust my players,” Austria said. “If they’re playing well, they will stay inside.”

     

    Even with June Mar Fajardo limited to just four points due to shoulder issues, Perez made sure the Beermen’s engine kept running. Don Trollano provided a strong supporting role with 23 points, but Perez’s night was the defining story.

     

    For Ginebra, Scottie Thompson fought hard with 24 points and nine rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to stop Perez’s unforgettable opening quarter.

     

    Now, as San Miguel prepares for a second straight finals rematch with TNT beginning Wednesday, January 21, Perez is hoping the momentum from this historic night can carry over.

     

    “We were able to breathe a little, but it will be another stressful series for sure,” Perez said.

    And if the first quarter of Game 6 is any indication, the rest of the series could be a stage for Perez to produce even more unforgettable moments.

     

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