ANTIPOLO — Jericho Cruz said that he only wanted to return the favor after he was caught flipping off the TNT bench back in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals opener last Wednesday in an act that’s since reached the league’s office.
The San Miguel wing no longer played coy upon being asked about the matter and said that he was being provoked by some of the Tropang 5G, leading to the obscene gesture–the image of which has made rounds on social media.
“Kasi ‘yung bench ng Talk N Text, wala naman akong ginagawa, sinimulan nila ako eh. Pino-provoke nila ako eh,” he said as he recalled the incident from their eventual 96-91 defeat that started their title defense bid on a rough note.
“‘Yung mga ‘di masyadong ginamit nung first game, pino-provoke ako. Bumawi lang ako,” last season’s Philippine Cup Finals MVP added.
Cruz flashed the middle finger at the 5:41 mark of the fourth quarter in Game 1, and some fans were quick to notice and went on to post as much online.
The Commissioner’s Office would eventually receive a copy of it and would go on to confirm, following a thorough review of the game tape.
But the tension didn’t simmer down come Game 2 Friday night, especially when the 35-year-old was seen talking to the opposing bench after scoring off a Rey Nambatac foul late in the second quarter for the 57-33 halftime lead.
The defending conference champions would go on to finish with the dominant 111-92 victory in the bag to tie the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
“Kaya kanina nung naka-shoot ako, sila ‘yung inano ko,” admitted Cruz, who tallied 12 points, four rebounds, and the same number of assists.
Asked which players from their long-time corporate rivals in particular he was getting heated with, Cruz chose not to mention any names.
“‘Di ko na lang mention kung sino ‘yun basta ako, maglalaro lang ako,” he said.
“Kung ayun ang gusto nila, eh di pagbibigyan din natin, wala naman problema sa akin ‘yun eh. Siguro, gusto nila ako inisin. OK lang.”
But the Adamson product clarified that he harbors no ill feelings whatsoever towards their foes, insisting that all of it is simply part of the game.
“At the end of the day, it’s just basketball,” he said. “Sa court lang naman ‘yun. Lahat naman kami gusto manalo. Binibigay namin ‘yung best namin sa team, binibigay din nila yung best nila sa team. Ayaw nila magpatalo, ayaw din namin magpatalo.
“Ganun lang naman yun eh. Pero off the court, wala na. ‘Pag nakita ko ‘yun, babatiin ko lahat ‘yan. Trabaho lang, walang personalan.”
#WATCH: BUMAWI LANG 🏀
Jericho Cruz says he flipped the bird during Game 1 of the #PBA50 Finals because he was provoked by the TNT bench#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/ASA0WEsaL1
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/pFHrcBinaU
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) January 23, 2026
