SAN Miguel Beer guard Jericho Cruz is having an explosive PBA Philippine Cup finals showing against TNT.
Credit that to his mindset of moving on from a stinging loss in the Big Dance opening match to Beermen coach Leo Austria and San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua.
“Iyon nga, sa akin unang-una iyong pagkatalo namin noon (Game 1) kasi akala namin we have a chance to win the game kaya nga lang nahatulan ng minus ng points, natalo pero tapos na iyon,” Cruz said. “Naka-move on na kami doon. Katulad ng sinasabi nila coach, boss Al, pagpasok namin, paglaro namin, talagang put that in your head na every game parang it’s your last game.
“Kaya ako, specifically sinasabihan ako ni boss Al na laruin mo na iyong laro mo, hayaan mo na iyong mga taong nagsasabi na ganito, ganiyan ka kasi ganiyan ka maglaro. Let it be. Laruin mo iyong laro mo. Iyon lang yung sinabi sa akin. Ganoon din ang sinasabi sa akin ni coach Leo,” he added.
With five booming trifectas, Cruz unleashed 23 points laced with three rebounds in the Beermen’s 105-91 triumph over the Tropang 5G in Game 4 last Sunday night.
The win enabled SMB to grab a 3-1 edge in the championship round, needing only a victory in Game 5 tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to wrap the series and foil the Triple Crown bid of TNT.
For Cruz, he and the rest of the team’s second unit are simply stepping up.
“Well, katulad ng mga sinasabi ko before, mag-step up lang ang ginagawa ko. Kumbaga, kung pangit iyong inilaro or hindi masyado maganda inilaro ng first group, nandito kami ni Don (Trollano) to step up sa second group,” he said. “So, iyon lang ang ginagawa namin. Binibigyan din namin sila ng motivation kasi kapag maganda laro namin, pagpasok nila mas lalong gaganda laro nila.
“Gusto ko ring mag-thank you kay coach Leo dahil sa tiwalang ibinibigay niya sa akin. Hanggang ngayon mayroon pa rin.”
It did not hurt that the flamboyant Cruz played for Austria at Adamson University in his collegiate career.
“I know him since college. Alam ko iyong kanyang tapang, alam ko iyong strengths, alam ko iyong weaknesses niya,” Austria said. “Then makikita ninyo, at the right time, at the right place, nag-i-step up siya.
“Kilala rin niya ako kung paano ako mag-coach. I’m so happy I have a good relationship with the players, especially from college.”
