PBA: CJ Perez becomes the newest member of 5,000-point club

CJ Perez made history on Sunday by becoming the newest member of the PBA's 5,000-point club during San Miguel's game against NLEX in the Season 50 Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center Antipolo.

Needing just 12 points to reach the elite club, Perez delivered with a dagger layup that sealed San Miguel’s 98–94 victory and lifted the Beermen to a 4–4 record.

The 32-year-old veteran guard finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, and two assists as he became the 102nd player to join the 5,000-point club and the 97th local player to do so. He also emerged as the 14th player to achieve such feat in an SMB uniform.

"Pang-ilang taon ko na ba ngayon, seven? I’m honored and grateful na nakarating ako dito and we know naman since rookie year ko na I’m a scorer so I’m happy now," Perez told reporters on the heels of the victory.

"Sobrang importante nito kasi kung natalo kami, mas lulubog kami. Mas mahihirapan kami. We’re grateful na nanalo kami ngayon."

(What season is it for me now, seven? I'm honored and grateful to be here and we know since my rookie year, I'm a scorer so I'm happy now... This was so important because if we lost, we would sink further. We would have a much harder time. We're grateful to win tonight.)

Perez admitted he was aware of the milestone heading into the game, but stressed that his shooting struggles had nothing to do with it.

Before hitting the game-sealing layup with 9.3 seconds left, Perez had gone just 4-of-14 from the field and even missed a free throw at the 2:28 mark that could have pushed him earlier into the 5,000-point club.

But he was grateful nonetheless for his latest achievement. 

"Actually, struggle talaga ako today and may gigil kasi kailangan naming manalo but yeah, hindi naman ako na-pressure doon sa 5K," he added.

(Actually, I was struggling today and I was a little eager to get the win but yeah, I didn't feel pressure with the 5K.)

"I just played my game."

—JMB, GMA News