Six years since debuting for Gilas Pilipinas, Cjay Perez’s love for the flag and country has never waned.
One simply cannot question Cjay Perez’s loyalty to Gilas Pilipinas.
As a member of a stacked crew, the San Miguel star doesn’t mind doesn’t mind sliding to a mere role player in the national team.
He reaffirmed all this in a social media post Tuesday, Dec. 2, just a day after the Gilas Pilipinas drubbed Guam, 95-71, in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
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“Di ako ang pinakamagaling. Di ako starter. Di rin ako palaging may mahabang minutes. Pero kahit kailan, hindi ko tinake for granted ‘yung pagkakataon na isuot ‘yung jersey ng bayan,” he said.
Perez first joined the national team as a late addition to the World Cup-bound Gilas squad in China in 2019.
While not a few had reservations about his inclusion, Perez proved them wrong and emerged as one of the few bright spots for Gilas during that campaign.
He averaged 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in the competition where Gilas wound up winless in five games.
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Perez has been a Gilas fixture since then.
In terms of figures, it’s been an up and down journey for the 32-year-old guard from Pangasinan. In the recently-concluded initial window of the World Cup Qualifiers, he registered 4.5 points 2.0 rebounds, in a little over 13 minutes of play.
But there’s more to his value than the tangibles.
“Alam ko ang role ko kaya kahit ilang minuto lang ako sa court, ibibigay ko lahat. Walang reklamo, walang drama. Trabaho lang,” he said.
“Para sa team. Para sa bayan.”
Perez wrapped up his post by reaffirming his commitment to the team’s cause and goals of making the 2027 World Cup and 2028 LA Olympics.
“Bakit andito pa rin ako? Kasi malaki ang PUSO ko para sa Pilipinas. At habang pinapatawag ako, handa akong sumagot,” he said.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.