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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider 'For the kids who have less': CJ Perez hopes to become an inspiration in PBA Finals

'For the kids who have less': CJ Perez hopes to become an inspiration in PBA Finals

Published Jul 13, 2025 12:19 pm  |  Updated Jul 13, 2025 01:30 pm

At A Glance

  • As CJ Perez marches into his fourth PBA Finals appearance, he cannot help but to look back at his humble beginnings when he played on the local courts in Pangasinan.
As CJ Perez marches into his fourth PBA Finals appearance, he cannot help but to look back at his humble beginnings when he played on the local courts in Pangasinan.
"Nagsimula akong maglaro nang nakayapak sa kalsada ng Pangasinan. Minsan walang kain, madalas walang baon. Pag nanalo? Ayos, may pang-tusok sa fishball at ice tubig. Ngayon, pang-apat ko na sa PBA Finals," Perez wrote on a social media post before San Miguel's best-of-seven Finals against TNT.
Fast forward to now, he is playing for what could be his third PBA title – a Finals run which, this time, not only he dedicates for himself or his family but also to the aspiring basketball players, who, just like him, want to take a leap of faith in finding their fortunes in Manila.
"Hindi ako andito para sumikat, nandito ako para manalo. Para sa pamilya. Para sa batang ako na kahit kupas na bola ang gamit, buong buo pa rin ang loob," Perez said.
"Kaya 'tong Finals run na ’to, inaalay ko para sa lahat ng batang pinanganak na kulang. Kulang sa gamit, kulang sa sapatos, kulang sa pamasahe, kulang sa back-up, pero punong-puno ng pangarap. Wag kayong bibitaw. Hindi hadlang ang kulang kung buo ang loob mo," he added.
And Perez knew how hard it is to work from ground to what he is enjoying today. He went to Manila unsure of what is in store for him or whether schools will ever take a chance on him.
Fortunately someone did. And while he bounced from one school to another, from San Sebastian to Ateneo and Lyceum where he finally settled in and began turning heads, he fought through every challenge in life to reach whatever position he is in right now.
With the opportunity to play in the PBA finals – no doubt, the most watched part of every conference – Perez elected to not only fight for himself but also for those who are going through the same as his, hoping to provide the light and inspiration.
"Dine-dedicate itong finals para sa mga batang nangangarap kagaya ko. Kaming mga galing probinsya, yung mga takot pumunta dito sa Manila kasi natatakot silang walang matirhan, di sila makuha," he said.
"Yun yung isang inspirasyon ko, may mga players from other province na walang budget pumunta dito, di nila alam paano sila mag-uumpisa. Being in the finals and play basketball, yung mahal mong nilalaro simula nung bata, talagang it's an honor. May mga batang nakikita ako, na nandito naglalaro," Perez said.
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