PEREZ SHINES IN 3X3
It feels good that we are playing here in front of the Filipinos because we really love basketball in general
For CJ Perez, playing in the inaugural 3x3 basketball event of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is a golden milestone.
Perez, the cat-quick playmaker of Columbian Dyip in the Philippine Basketball Association, said he is glad to be part of the country’s pioneer squad in the 3x3 event.
Although they had some adjustments, they quickly brushed it off en route to a hot start Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
“We are the first team to compete in the 3x3 event, which is making its SEA Games debut,” Perez said.
“We had some adjustments, but it’s still basketball so I think the adjustments were just very minimal.”
The Nationals kicked off the tourney on fire.
They clobbered Indonesia, 21-17; Myanmar 21-10; and Vietnam, 21-15. They are still playing Thailand at press time for a win that would improve their golden chances.
In the distaff side, Gilas scored a triple kill with a 21-4 win over Myanmar, 15-13 thrashing of Malaysia and 16-13 victory over Indonesia.
Perez is playing with chip on his shoulders. He is still fresh from the FIBA Basketball World Cup last August in China, where they were clobbered in an embarrassing fashion.
Actually, he was left out in Gilas squad for the 5x5 event, opening the doors of 3x3, where he joined fellow neophytes Jayson
Perkins, Mo Tautuaa and Chris Newsome in the squad handled by Ronnie Magsanoc.
Perez said it doesn’t matter whether he is play 5x5 or 3x3; the important matter is what’s written in front of his playing jersey.
“I am happy that I still got the chance to represent the Philippines, especially now that we are hosting the SEA Games,” he said. “It feels good that we are playing here in front of the Filipinos because we really love basketball in general.”
And now that he’s playing in an entirely different discipline, the most he can do is to play his heart out and win the gold medal.
“The rules here in 3x3 are different but so far, we are smooth on the court and credit to my teammates because they are playing with all their hearts.”