Jericho Cruz hopes for better fan behavior after being caught in a verbal exchange with a spectator during San Miguel’s eventual win over Meralco in Game 2 of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup Finals on Friday night.
The Beermen combo guard said that he actually has no issues dealing with all the berating, but all that he asks is to spare their families.
“Sa mga fans, ‘wag lang isama ‘yung anak o ‘yung family,” he said moments after their 95-94 escape at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Ako, personally, murahin mo ako harap-harapan, walang problema. Basta ako gagawin ko lang ‘yung trabaho ko.”
Cruz actually sought the help of the Big Dome security after that exchange with a fan, who was seated near the baseline where the pro-Bolts crowd sat.
#WATCH A fan was ejected from Game 2 of the #PBA2024 Philippine Cup Finals after allegedly directing very foul words at San Miguel’s Jericho Cruz 🏀🚫
📹 @JustineBacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/zU2atexbsn
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) June 7, 2024
It happened with around eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, when SMB was trying to come back after trailing for most of the night. The venue marshalls immediately approached and then escorted the fan out.
The PBA’s quick response to the incident was seemingly proof of how much it has been strengthening player protection after what happened with Poy Erram during the TNT-Ginebra title series in the 2023 Governors’ Cup.
Cruz appreciated the swift action that the league took.
“Professional tayo e. Hindi naman ako basta na susugod doon. Siyempre may security rin tayo rito sa PBA. Ako, I’m happy na nag-respond kaagad sila,” he said.
“‘Yun lang sa akin, protect the players. Kasi … OK lang ako murahin. Walang problema ‘yun. Basta, ‘wag lang idamay ‘yung family ko,” he added.
It makes him all the more satisfied, too, that they eked out the win big thanks to the big triples of CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter that ultimately enabled the Beermen to tie the best-of-7 series at one game apiece.
“Sina Marcio kasi, they’ve been here long enough,” he said.
“Ang tagal na nila sa liga e. Siguro hindi mo na nga mabilang ‘yung mga game-winning shots na nashoot niya e — him, Chris Ross, June Mar. ‘Di ba?
“Para sa akin, as long as nasa loob sila, talagang kumpiyansa na kaya pa ipapanalo ‘yung game. Kaya kami sobrang thankful kami kay CJ, tsaka kay Marcio na they hit big shots for us,” added the 33-year-old.
Cruz, though, is moving on from what happened, and said that he may even apologize to the fan for not being able to finish watching the game.
“Baka makita ko ‘yun, kakausapin ko, magso-sorry rin ako. Masakit din sa akin ‘yun eh, syempre gusto ko rin makita siya na nanonood, nagchi-cheer sa favorite team niya,” said the 10-year pro out of Adamson.
“Pero sana next time, medyo… OK lang ‘yung magsasalita, ‘wag lang idamay ‘yung family.”
