NCAA suspends Lyceum star CJ Perez for PBA Draft application

The collegiate league’s reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) failed to alert his current league of his desire to join the pros, therefore he will not be playing for Game One of the finals. (File Photo: Cjay Perez/Facebook)

It was a turn of events for Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) star CJ Perez as he made headlines from his submission of application to the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft to being suspended from the first game of their team’s finals in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) against San Beda. The collegiate league’s reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) failed to alert his current league of his desire to join the pros, therefore he will not be playing for game one of the finals.

Initially, Perez and his manager (who he applied to the Draft through) were given a letter from the NCAA banning the starting forward from three of LPU’s upcoming games. However, the school appealed to the Management Committee of the NCAA, believing that the notice was given in an untimely manner, but the league persisted and said, “Perez only informed the NCAA of his application days after he submitted the same to the PBA, after the same was already the subject of numerous news reports.”

In support of this, NCAA Chairman Frank Gusi added, “It should be stressed that the NCAA’s action on this incident was made after carefully considering the best interest of the league and of the student-athletes. It is in accordance with existing NCAA rules, and is ultimately intended to promote the spirit of sportsmanship and discipline in the league.”

CJ Perez averages 18.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.3 steals per game as he represents the LPU Pirates. His team will be pursuing the finals with his absence as they go against the San Beda Red Lions as they play their first game for the championship at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday, November 6. San Beda defeated LPU during the final round during last year’s season.