By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Office approved on Tuesday the revised deal sending league scoring leader CJ Perez to the San Miguel Beermen.
Submitted for approval last week, the PBA’s trade committee pored over the details of the deal at the weekend before coming up with its decision.
The deal has Mr. Perez going from the Terrafirma Dyip to the Beermen in exchange for role players Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Russell Escoto, and Gelo Alolino, along with San Miguel’s first-round rookie picks for this year’s draft (eighth) and in 2022.
The 2022 pick was the revision made to the deal.
Mr. Perez was part of the Dyip for two years and was a stalwart for the team right from the get-go.
Unfortunately, the Dyip did not have much success during that run, with the team finishing last in the lone tournament last year with a 1-10 record.
It is something that the Terrafirma management hopes to change in trading away its star player.
“We reviewed our program. It was a long process for the management and the coaches. So, we came to a conclusion that we still have missing pieces and we needed certain players,” said Bobby Rosales, the team’s representative to PBA board, of their decision to move Mr. Perez.
“Without question, CJ Perez is a good player and it would be hard to compare him to other players. But the strategy was to complete the team. And to get something of value, you have to give away something of value,” he added.
Apart from the veteran players they will be getting from San Miguel, Terrafirma is high on the eighth pick they will be getting from the deal, in addition to the top overall pick it holds, considering how talent-rich this year’s rookie draft pool is.
“We have players we are looking at. But we know we are weak in the center position, and we need height and firepower,” said Mr. Rosales.
In San Miguel, meanwhile, Mr. Perez will be playing alongside multiple league most valuable player awardee June Mar Fajardo as well as veterans Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, and Chris Ross.
Also part of the Leo Austria-coached Beermen are Terrence Romeo, Mo Tautuaa, and Von Pessumal.
The trade committee, which decided on the deal, was composed of league technical consultant Joey Guanio, deputy commissioner Erik Castro, legal counsel Atty. Melvin Mendoza, and technical officials Ma. Roscelle Teotico and Junior Bengua.