Jericho Cruz couldn’t help but turn sentimental after winning a PBA championship with the man he will forever look at as his ‘second dad.’
“Nag-usap nga kami kanina sa loob eh,” said the 31-year-old, referring to San Miguel head coach Leo Austria moments after they clinched the 2022 Philippine Cup title together, Sunday night.
“Medyo teary-eyed.”
The two-way specialist annexed his second league crown, but this latest cop is the sweetest for him as he accomplished such with the one whom he owes his career for giving him the break that led to where he is right now.
Cruz was discovered and then brought by Austria to Adamson University. So, it was a no-brainer that he reunited with his mentor by signing up with the Beermen as an unrestricted free agent back in February.
Definitely, it was a decision he won’t ever regret as it led to him winning gold alongside the decorated bench tactician — something that they were not able to do during their time with the Soaring Falcons in the UAAP.
“‘Yun ang pinaka-best moment ko. Siya ‘yung kumuha sa akin eh. Nakilala ako sa college through him,” said Cruz, who left Adamson shortly after Austria resigned as its head coach. “‘Yun ‘yung na-aappreciate ko talaga kay Coach Leo.”
Making this championship all the more fulfilling for Cruz is to have proven the doubters wrong by helping the club reclaim its rule of the all-Filipino tilt.
“I had to bring my A-game every game, kasi alam ko naman na coming to San Miguel, ang daming nagba-bash sa akin. Bakit andito daw ako, ‘di nila ako kailangan, mga ganoon,” said the 6-foot-1 guard.
“So, ‘yun ‘yung nag-fuel sa akin through out the whole season. Kaya every game talagang I had to bring my A-game,” added Cruz, who averaged 13.2 points on 44.7-percent shooting in his first full conference with SMB.
Now that he’s won another title after waiting for six years, the one-time Mr. Quality Minutes awardee wants to add more to his collection.
“Sobrang sarap sa feeling pala ulit,” said Cruz, who won his first with Rain or Shine in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup under ‘ninong’ Yeng Guiao. “Especially, winning here with San Miguel. Talagang iba. Iba talaga. Iba.
“Parang, pagpasok ko pa lang ng dugout, alam mo ‘yung saya ng team? ‘Yun ang gustong-gusto kong feel na nararamdaman ko noong nasa Rain or Shine ako. Sana hindi ito ‘yung last ko. Hopefully, more championships to come.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
