MJ Perez’s return to the Philippines serves as her sign to continue playing pro volleyball at this stage into her career.
Just a few months ago, MJ Perez was ready to call it a career in professional volleyball.
At 36 years old, she’s already played all over the world, is a three-time champion in the Asian circuit, and has been a mainstay in Venezuela’s national team since 2008.
Simply put, there was nothing left to prove for “Amiga” and it was now time to enjoy life outside the court after 16 years of being on it. So following her two-year stint in Egypt, the Venezuelan thought it would be the last stop in her storied career.
“After I finished my last season in Egypt [last April], I was thinking like, Okay, finished. I [wanted] to do something else in my life and everything,” she told The GAME at the conclusion of the Reinforced Conference.
Yet when Cignal and the PVL came calling, it was a no-brainer for “Amiga” to say yes. After all, it was the golden opportunity to return to the Philippines after five long years.
Perez had long fallen in love with the Filipinos’ passion for volleyball and had created lifelong bonds as F2 Logistics’ resident import in the Philippines Superliga (PSL) between 2017 and 2019.
“When this opportunity came up, I didn’t have to think too much because I said, yes, this is my time to come back [to the Philippines]. And, of course, see my friends, and the fans and feel the volleyball [atmosphere] again because here, it’s so different,” Perez told reporters after Cignal’s Invitational Conference campaign.
“I played in other countries, and how people feel volleyball here is totally different. So I just love to play here, and feel the crowd and everything. So for me, it was a good decision to come back.”
‘I feel good’
In this reconnection came a rediscovery for MJ Perez. As Cignal’s import, the Venezuelan was as lethal as ever, with her precise spiking and veteran smarts powering the HD Spikers’ on both ends in the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences.
With Amiga, the HD Spikers finished bronze in the Reinforced Conference, and silver in the Invitationals after falling short against Creamline. Individually, she took home Best Import in the Reinforced, and Best Outside Spiker in the Invitationals.
Perez also saved her best for last after scoring a PVL Finals record of 42 points built on 37 attacks, three service aces, and two blocks against Creamline. All these, after playing in a hectic schedule that saw little to no breaks in the Invitationals.
“Actually, I have plans because after what I showed here, you know, before I was thinking like it’s time to retire. You know, my age and everything. But after this challenge here, I feel good,” she said.
Barring any changes, Perez now heads to Europe for her next stop.
“Offers came in and I decided to go to play in Europe. Still, I cannot make it official because I haven’t signed my final contract. But it’s a possibility that after here [the Philippines], I will play in Europe,” she said.
And as she rediscovered her competitiveness here, Amiga also witnessed a massive improvement in Philippine volleyball as compared to her PSL days with F2.
“I feel there’s a lot of difference [in the competition]. I said before that now the Filipinos have many young players growing up and they are good talents. And I can see now there’s many good players in different teams and young teams,” she said.
“Also, I feel now that I saw the volleyball here, I noticed that they have more combinations, and more different floor [defense], and it looks different than when I [first] came.”
Banner image courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.