LIKE fellow San Miguel teammate Chris Ross, CJ Perez is also looking to complete his studies and earn a degree.
The new Beerman is urged to get back to school even through online learning in hopes of serving as an inspiration not only among his co-players, but to his children as well.
No less than San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Sports Director Alfrancis Chua who told the 27-year-old Perez about earning his diploma.
"Tapusin mo ang pag-aaral mo. Napaka-importante niyan," Chua disclosed in the sports program The Chasedown about his advice to the prolific wingman out of Lyceum, who San Miguel acquired in an off-season trade with Terrafirma.
"Diniin ko talaga sa kanya, 'ilang sem ka na lang, tapusin mo yan,'" added the SMC executive. "Grumaduate ka lalo na ngayon, zoom-zoom na lang (ang classes)."
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Face-to-face classes had to give way to online learning following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
With time on his side, Ross, 36, did exactly that and earned his degree at Marshall University last week, or about a decade since he last played for the Thundering Herd.
"It was a long time coming, but I used quarantine as a time to better myself and (finished) some things that I didn't get to finish when I was first presented with the situation," said the veteran San Miguel guard on his Instagram account.
"I'm proud and giving myself a pat on the back for never giving up on myself and finally getting it done."
If Ross can do it, so can Perez.
Chua said Perez, who has a few semesters left to complete his Business Management major, vowed to get his studies done for the sake of his two children.
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"Sabi ko (sa kanya), 'May mga anak ka ba?' Sabi niya, 'Meron na Boss,'" recalled Chua, also board of governor of Barangay Ginebra, of his conversation with Perez.
"So OK lang ba na hindi sila grumaduate?' 'Ay hindi ho puwede.' 'O eh, bakit ikaw, OK lang?'" he added. "Kaya nangako naman sa akin yung bata na tatapusin niya ang kanyang pag-aaral." (RG)
