The new Beast, unleashed!

Photo courtesy of KC Cruz
San Sebastian rookie Jaymar Perez is one reason for the Golden Stags' sudden rise from the lower half of the standings to number four in the 89th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors’ basketball tournament.

Perez's masterful performance in San Sebastian's fourth straight win, a 58-53 decision over Lyceum of the Philippines University, made him the top choice for the ACCEL/3XVI NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week supported by Gatorade.

The 19-year-old exploded for 28 points, 11 rebounds, and had three steals for the undermanned Stags after John Ortouste sat out because of flu, Bradwyn Guinto was still recovering from typhoid fever, and Leo de Vera serving a one-game suspension.

San Sebastian's win improved its record to 8-5 for a two-game lead over a surprising Emilio Aguinaldo College (6-7) side.

Perez, actually, struggled midway in the season and was not at his usual self in the Stags' three-game slide to end the first round. He slowly regained his form after that and even finished with a 19-point and 10-rebound performance in San Sebastian's 72-63 win over Mapua on September 14.

Stags Head Coach Topex Robinson knows that Perez is still young and can improve further his game. "[Perez] is such a talented player but he's still young. He will have his struggles, he will have bad games but I cannot and will not give up on him."

The Pangasinan-born Perez—averaging 14 points, eight rebounds, and three assists per game this season—said that he just wants to return the trust given to him by Robinson and even credited his teammates for their support.

"I want to thank Coach Topex for trusting me. That's a big thing for me. But I won't be able to do all those things inside the court without my teammates. It's a tough season for all of us, but we are all here helping each other out. That's why it becomes easier for us," said Perez in Filipino.

Perez defeated University of Perpetual Help's Harold Arboleda and Juneric Baloria, and EAC's Jolas Paguia for the weekly award.


Arboleda and Baloria combined for 35 points in the Altas’ 73-65 win over the Mapua Cardinals while Paguia made four of the Generals' 10 three-pointers in an 87-64 rout of the Letran Knights.

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