Fil-Am player Joshua Munzon, a potential No. 1 overall pick in next month’s PBA Rookie Draft, said he was surprised when Terrafirma shipped CJ Perez to San Miguel Beer, ending what he thinks is a fun and talented young core for the franchise starting this year.
Terrafirma holds the top overall selection in the draft, and officials have expressed interest in taking the 6-foot-4 Munzon, a former California State University stalwart who has played pro basketball in the ASEAN Basketball League.
“I was surprised, you know leading up to it (draft) I might get to play with CJ,” Munzon said as he appeared on the weekly Saturday sports show The Chasedown on One PH over Cignal TV.
“If they pick me, that would potentially be a fun lineup (with Perez)… I was surprised to see it. But at the same time, it’s not in our control. Both teams were happy. We’ll see with the eighth pick, it’s interesting to see.”
In a move that surprised many fans of the PBA, the Terrafirma Dyip dealt Perez – the No. 1 pick in 2018 – to SMB for Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Jelo Alolino and Russel Escoto plus two first round picks – 2021 and 2022.
READ: Rosales respects fans opinion on Perez trade, calls it ‘healthy’ for PBA
Munzon and Perez are teammates with the Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 squad with SMB’s Moala Tautuaa and Alvin Pasaol – another PBA aspirant – preparing for the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Graz, Austria this May.
The former ABL star said he likes the energy of Perez.
“He’s very talented, he’s one of the players who can score whenever he wants to. He’s very hard to guard,” said Munzon.
Now that Perez is with SMB, the 26-year-old Munzon said he still feels excited joining Terrafirma if the team decides to take him with the No. 1 overall pick since he knows some of its members, including last year’s top choice in the draft Roosevelt Adams.
“I’ve been very excited to walk in there. I played with Roosevelt Adams a little bit. They have a core where I can come in and contribute, hopefully win some games and be competitive,” he said.
The league’s Rookie Draft is set March 14.