It’s been 11 months since the Gilas Pilipinas suffered an overtime loss at the hands of Angola, 81-84, in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China. However, for Terra Firma Dyip’s superstar CJ Perez he still remembers it like it happened yesterday.
During his chat with The Athlete’s Corner sports podcast, the 26-year-old combo-guard looked back on his first Gilas stint, particularly their game against the Angola.
Gilas Pilipinas was 0-2 entering their last game in the group stage, that’s why it was no surprise to see Perez and the crew eager to finally get their first win in the tournament.
Angola took control of the game for the first three quarters but the Filipinos started turning things around in the fourth quarter with naturalized player Andray Blatche and Perez leading the way and tying the score at 73 with 5.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
“Kahit naman ngayon naiisip ko pa rin yun e. Pero ang sa’kin kasi is wala talaga sakin yung play. Di talaga dapat makakarating sakin yung bola nung last five seconds na yun,” Perez said during the podcast.
“Pag dating sakin nung bola, malayo sakin yung basket tapos kung drumible pa ko nun, mas-steal sakin yun kasi yung best defender yung nakabantay sakin tsaka tumingin pa ko kay Kiefer (Ravena). Papasa ko pa sana kay Kiefer kaso dineny kay Andre Blatche dineny, so wala na kong choice,” he added.
The 2019 Rookie of the Year awardee received the ball with only 5.2 seconds left in regulation. He tried finding someone to pass to, but because of the great defense of Angola, Perez was forced to put up a very deep three-pointer that missed which sent the game to overtime – which the Angolans eventually won.
Perez, who finished the game with 17 points and seven rebounds, took the unfortunate experience as a lesson as he moves on with his career.
“Di yun excuse pero magandang experience sakin yun kaya sa susunod alam ko na. Sa’kin pala ibibigay yung bola, edi sakin nalang,” He said.
Perez admitted that given the chance to redo that moment, he would’ve drove to the basket right and live with the result of him taking a higher percentage shot rather than putting up a hail-mary three-pointer.
“D-drive ko agad yun. Pag tanggap ko pa lang, drive ko na. DI na ko titingin sa iba. Kasi nasa akin na e, five seconds na lang e. Yun yung gagawin ko kasi wala naman mangyayari sakin kung t-try kong i-shoot yun kasi deadlock naman na e.”
