Robert Bolick believes CJ Perez is the real MVP for Team Mark during the 2024 Bacolod All-Star Game.
Things were looking bleak by the end of the first quarter for Team Mark during the 2024 PBA All-Star Game in Bacolod on Sunday.
Captain Mark Barroca had emphasized working on defense, but they were still down by 26.
CJ Perez and the rest of Team Mark tried their best to catch up, but every effort to narrow the lead was answered right back. Marcio Lassiter was especially deadly with three straight four-point shots to balloon the lead, 80-53.
But Perez and Calvin Abueva would just not give up. In that quarter alone, the recently hailed PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals MVP scored 28, including a buzzer-beating four-pointer.
Suddenly, Team Mark was within striking distance by halftime, 79-68.
"Lumabas lang 'yung pagka-competitive namin kasi hirap naman kung tatambakan kami ng singkwenta, 'di ba?" Perez shared to reporters after the game.
That halftime effort proved to be vital in their catchup to Team Japeth, leading Robert Bolick's nine straight points to end the ball game at 140-140.
For the NLEX Road Warrior, who was hailed as co-MVP along with Japeth Aguilar, the honor should have been given to CJ.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Robert Bolick gives flowers to CJ Perez in Bacolod All-Star Game]
But Perez didn't mind.
"All-Star, so kahit sino pwede maging MVP. Deserving naman," Perez explained. "Kung 'di naman niya na-shoot 'yun, 'di tatabla."
Still, all's well that ends well as both teams win P150,000 each.