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Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup Morning Rundown: It's time we take note of CJ Perez

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(Photo Credit: Filoil Flying V Sports)
It's been a while since CJ Perez was under the spotlight.

After deciding to leave the San Sebastian Golden Stags in the NCAA, the Baby Beast decided to take his talents to the Ateneo Blue Eagles. He sat out one year to undergo residency, and while doing so, he dominated competition in smaller leagues like the Fr. Martin's tourney and the Milcu Got Skills Challenge. CJ Perez vs. Ben Mbala? It was a match-up that was to die for.

Sadly, we weren't able to be witness to that match-up, as Perez decided to leave Ateneo because of issues with academics. After waiting for one year to get his shot at redemption, his comeback tour was derailed once more. He took his talents to Intramuros with Lyceum, where he was reunited with former head coach Topex Robinson. 

It looks like he's finally found a home in LPU.

Guys like Ben Mbala and Teytey Teodoro have dominated headlines with regards to the Filoil tournament, but CJ Perez deserves just as much love. He's been excellent, averaging an all-around line of 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He's been the backbone of Lyceum's intense small-ball attack, where they pressure opposing offenses to oblivion en route to easy baskets in transition. If that doesn't work, CJ can work his brilliance in isolation, using his athletic ability and strength to get baskets. 

Finally, CJ Perez is back under the spotlight. When discussing who the best local player in the NCAA is, Rey Nambatac and Teytey Teodoro are two names that stand out. CJ Perez is a name who we should take note of in that conversation. Let's head on to the rundown.

Hump Day Scores

JRU Light Bombers def. UPIS Junior Maroons 77-63

SSCR Golden Stags def. CSB Blazers 78-68

UE Red Warriors def. UST Growling Tigers 80-67

Lyceum Pirates def. Letran Knights 99-90

The Rundown

1. UPIS is definitely going to miss the services of the #1 recruit in the Class of 2017 Juan Gomez de Liano. They struggled against the JRU Light Bombers, failing to find any form of consistent scoring. 

2. San Sebastian managed to eke out a good win against the CSB Blazers, using an efficient attack to get their buckets. Truth be told, the Stags are still undergoing an adjustment period as they try to blend in a number of their players, but wins like these will only make them a better team.

3. Michael Calisaan is a stud. The SLAM Rising Stars alum has progressed well when it comes to his game, looking to elevate his game to the next level after a ho-hum season last year.

4. The UE Red Warriors is arguably the least talented team in the UAAP, but they happen to have a great coach in Derrick Pumaren. Manong is passionate and gets to his boys really well, and it showed with how they responded against the UST Growling Tigers.

5. If we're getting real though, that UST and UE battle was a likely preview of the seventh and eighth seeds going at it in the UAAP. UE's lack of talent and UST's poor coaching and chemistry make it difficult to believe that they'll be contending for a Final Four slot. 

6. YAY! Steve Akomo had a great game! But he's all that UST really has. Live and die with Steve.

7. Lyceum is looking really good to start the preseason. They're definitely deep, and they run a high-octane attack led by CJ Perez. Six guys in double digits? That's incredibly impressive. 

8. Rey Nambatac and crew are going to have to work a ton to be able to do well in the upcoming NCAA season. They struggled against Lyceum's crazy press, committing 26 turnovers. Not ideal.


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