By REYNALD MAGALLON
CJ Perez became a versatile and more potent since moving to San Miguel and the silverwares he has won this season are clear proof that he’s now a full-fledged superstar.
That’s how SMB head coach Jorge Gallent sees the development of his star guard who took his game to a higher level especially in the Beermen’s championship conquest in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Perez actually capped the splendid conference that saw him win his very first Best Player of the Conference award with two more trophies on his hand – his first Finals Most Valuable Player plum and his second PBA title.
“CJ has always been a great player. He plays offense. He plays defense and now he showed his worth in this conference that he can excel pa. As a good player he became a better player,” Gallent said of his star guard.
Perez didn’t shy away from the spotlight and provided the tip to the spear of a star studded Beermen team that is boasting of talent and super scorers in the likes of June Mar Fajardo, import Bennie Boatwright and the tried-and-tested Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter.
In fact, Perez embraced all of the responsibilities in the Finals series and made sure to deliver when it mattered most.
The 30-year-old guard did a little of everything in the series with an average of 18 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.2 steals – none bigger than his performance in the series clinching win where he poured a playoff career-high 28 points.
It was a fitting ending to Perez’s conference-long brilliance as he joined Scottie Thompson as the only players to win a first Finals MVP plum after also bagging his first BPC award.
A title, a BPC award and a Finals MVP citation now puts Perez in prime position for an early consideration for the Season’s MVP award and Gallent is solely crediting it to Perez’s growth and maturity.
“He did the things that he had to do in practice and in games and this is where he is now. He is the best player of the conference and Finals MVP,” said Gallent.
“What I’m saying is he’s getting matured already. And I love it, all of his success. I love it,” said Gallent.
