IT’S D-Day for CJ Perez as the top pick in the Rookie Draft gets to showcase his court wits when Columbian Dyip takes on defending champion San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Perez, the former National Collegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player selected first overall by Columbian, sets his league debut against the Beermen at 4:30 p.m.
Rain or Shine and new-look NLEX take the floor at 7 p.m.
The 6-foot-1 Perez is expected to fill his duty as the go-to guy for Columbian with the top-pick tag under his name. The then Kia Picanto squad finished the previous All-Filipino conference with a league-worst 1-10 won-lost record.
Under Head Coach John Edel Cardel, Perez will team up with backcourt duo Rashawn McCarthy and Jerammy King, Jackson Corpuz, fellow rookie Jeepy Faundo and forward Glenn Khobuntin.
The Beermen, the all-Filipino champions for four straight seasons, will have Terrence Romeo as their new weapon. He is expected to blend well with five-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, veterans Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross and Arwind Santos.
San Miguel Beer looks serious to win its fifth Philippine Cup title when it also added Jimmy Alapag to the coaching staff.
The Elasto Painters, meanwhile, will welcome the return of Raymond Almazan who was AWOL in the middle of the Governors’ Cup last year after a misunderstanding with the team.
Almazan’s return, however, would only provide relief inside the paint for Rain or Shine as the squad bid goodbye to guard Chris Tiu, who retired just before the 44th season.
They will have their hands full against the retooled Road Warriors who will parade newly acquired center 6-foot-7 Poy Erram.
NLEX got Erram from Blackwater and his presence will greatly affect the lineup that consists of Kevin Alas, JR Quiñahan, Larry Fonacier and Asi Taulava.