Perez lifts BPC trophy

MANILA, Philippines — The time has finally come for young superstar CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer.

Always in the running for the coveted PBA Best Player of the Conference since his rookie season in 2019 only to get nosed out in the finish line, Perez got his day in the sun at last in the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup.

Perez carved his name in the hallowed list of recipients of the top individual award, beating a pair of two-time winners in Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger and Scottie Thompson, among others.

The 2019 Rookie of the Year and two-time Mythical First Team amassed 1,055 total points built around 464 from statistical points, 505 from media votes and 86 from players’ votes to claim the prestigious trophy.

Standhardinger, the topnotcher in stats, finished No. 2 in the final balloting with 777 markers followed by NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino (559), TNT’s Calvin Oftana (472) and Thompson (446).

The 30-year-old Perez hit paydirt after finishing second in the BPC derby to Fajardo in last season’s Philippine Cup then fourth in the Commissioner’s Cup and third in the Governors’ Cup.

The Lyceum standout shared the spotlight in last night’s brief awarding ceremonies with Phoenix’ Johnathan Williams III, who clinched the ArenaPlus Best Import accolade in absentia.

“Dagdag sa kumpyansa ko yun at resumé ko. Malaking bagay para sa career ko,” Perez previously said about the prospect of finally winning the BPC.

The fact that Perez did it while playing under the shadows of SMB behemoth June Mar Fajardo, the record-holding nine-time winner of the BPC, speaks volumes of the former’s topnotch skills.

Even before the awarding, Fajardo himself had given his SMB and Gilas Pilipinas teammate his endorsement.

“Tingin ko siya ang mananalo ng BPC kapag ganoon ang laro niya lagi,” Fajardo said of Perez prior to the finals.