HE SKIES for a rebound against the opposing team’s tallest player. Once he lands, he proceeds to bring down the basketball, evading his opponents one by one like stationary cones. As the last line of defense greets him, he soars–slowly gliding through the air–and finishes the fast break with a thunderous slam.

Without question, Jaymar “CJ” Perez is a transcendental basketball talent. The 22-year-old transferee from the San Sebastian College-Recolletos Golden Stags of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines (NCAA) makes the game of basketball seem too easy. Yet, his journey reveals that he is more than just the perfect athlete he seems to be.

The beginning

Perez never envisioned a career in the sport. Hailing from a small town in the province of Pangasinan, basketball was just another recreational activity for him. “Naglalaro lang ako sa kalye, sa mga buhangin na basketball courts (I was just playing in the streets, in the sands of the basketball courts),” Perez recalls.

Perez started playing competitive basketball around the time he graduated high school. He recalls that he would often play in small pocket tournaments, known as ligang labas, and in friendly bets with other basketball players to further hone his basketball skills.

“Pagdating ko ng college, doon lang ako nakaranas ng official na basketball talaga (It was only when I got to college that I got to experience officially organized basketball),” he says. At the tender age of 15, Perez was recruited to play for the Golden Stags in the NCAA after accompanying his teammate to go to Manila to be discovered.

However, everything was not always smooth sailing. Not only did Perez have to deal with the stronger and older competition here in Manila, he also had to battle homesickness–as he was away from his family for the first time. “Noong 2011, nagpunta ako sa Baste. Parang na-homesick ako kaya bumalik ako sa Pangasinan (In 2011, I went to San Sebastian but I felt homesick, soI went back to Pangasinan),” Perez shares. He discloses that he then finally went back to San Sebastian in 2012.

After overcoming his homesickness, Perez was instantly coronated with the nickname “Baby Beast” after his style of play mimicked that of Golden Stag alumni Calvin Abueva, who was known for his athleticism, strength, and aggressive style of play. Perez’s similar attributes made him an instant crowd favorite. Team Glory Be Head Coach Yuri Escueta describes Perez: “Iba yung energy niya (His energy is different).” He likens Perez to a salivating dog, because of the intensity and energy he brings every time he steps onto the court.

Transitioning to the Ateneo

Perez transferred to the Ateneo after being recruited by management, who were looking to fill the void in the post-Kiefer Ravena era. He is currently serving his one-year residency with Team Glory Be of the Men’s Basketball team, which he led to the championship in the Milcu X Got Skills Elite Showcase tournament while garnering Most Valuable Player honors.

Escueta states that Perez’s experience and skill in basketball have been great assets to the team. “Big help talaga! You don’t randomly get players who [go] hard on defense and [go] hard on offense. Siya, he goes hard every time on both sides of the court,” he says of Perez’s performance on the court. He adds that he feels lucky to have a player of Perez’s caliber on his team.

Thus, for a player with Perez’s skill and athleticism–and a moniker such as “Baby Beast”–there is pressure for him to perform. Perez himself acknowledges the expectations for him to perform, but uses this as motivation to further raise his level of play. “So ginagawa ko talaga yung ginagawa ni Calvin–re-rebound, mag-hustle–hanggang sa nasanay na rin ako na ganoon lagi ang aking ginagawa (I really try to emulate Calvin’s game–his rebounding and hustle–until I got used to doing that all the time),” he says.

To prepare Perez for next season, both player and coach acknowledge that there are still aspects of his game that he needs to work on. Although he believes Perez is already a strong player, Escueta hopes that his player would develop his basketball smarts and learn to make better decisions while limiting his turnovers. “You can’t just use your strength to outmuscle everybody,” Escueta says. Perez, on his part, hopes to improve his shooting and to mesh well with his teammates.

Inspirations

Perez keeps his tenacious mindset during the games unchanged even with the newfound pressure on his shoulders. “Pagdating ko sa [University Athletic Association of the Philippines], mas prepared na ‘ko, (When I arrive in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, I’ll be more prepared),” he claims, “Para may maaasahan sila next year (So they have someone they can trust next year).”

However, what truly drives Perez is providing for his family, which remains his primary motivation to continue his stellar play and eventually make basketball a profession; his mother is an overseas Filipino worker based in Singapore and he wants nothing more than to allow her to come home, rest, and be with her family. “Ayaw ko na lagi siyang nasa Singapore. Simula noong bata ako, nagtratrabaho na siya (I don’t like that she is in Singapore all the time. Ever since I was a kid, she’s been working),” he shares.

From a mere recreational activity, basketball has become much more for CJ Perez–as a source of potential livelihood and of hope. He plays the game not just because it is fun and that he just so happens to excel at it. More importantly, it gives this “Baby Beast” an opportunity to provide for his family and to be able to give back to the people who have had his back since day one.