IN his two years in the PBA, CJ Perez has proven himself as a solid franchise player for Terrafirma.
Now the next challenge is to make the people around him better, according to coach Johnedel Cardel.
"Sabi ko sa kanya ikaw na yung Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James diyan. So you have to involve your teammates. Pagalingin mo sila," said the soft-spoken coach. "Magaling ka na, so pagalingin mo sila."
The 27-year-old wingman out of Lyceum had been a one-man wrecking crew for the Dyip the past two seasons, averaging 22.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 44 games so far as a pro.
In the recent Philippine Cup bubble conference, he once again led the league in scoring, submitting averages of 24.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and
4.3 assists to finish a strong third in the players' statistical points standings.
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Unfortunately, despite Perez's impressive numbers, the wins still eluded the franchise as it failed to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
In the all-Filipino bubble, the Dyip finished dead-last with a 1-10 (win-loss) record.
Cardel knows Perez can't do it alone and help definitely has to come his way.
"Basta I told him kailangan be a leader inside. Ikaw na ang tinitingnan diyan. Ikaw na ang magdadala diyan," said the former PBA player turned coach.
Top rookie pick Roosevelt Adams would have been a perfect complement for the league's scoring champion, but the limited time playing together with Perez during the shortened season was not enough to show what the two athletic players could bring together to the table.
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Nonetheless, the Dyip are likewise looking forward to the coming rookie draft where the franchise is again poised to select the top overall pick for the third straight season.
Cardel, 50, hopes to get the best talent possible in the draft and add it to the Dyip's young promising core that also has the likes of Juami Tiongson, JP Calvo, Andreas Cahilig, Reden Celda, Glenn Khobuntin, Jeepy Faundo, Joseph Gabayni, Bonbon Batillier, and Christian Balagasay.
"Bata itong team na ito, so it's a learning process," he said. "Ang maganda lang dito kasi mga bata, very coachable." (RG)
