TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa was seething over Jericho Cruz’s antics during the closing moments of their eventual loss to San Miguel in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday night.
“Parang bastusan eh,” rued the cage legend to reporters shortly after emerging from the team’s dugout at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, in the aftermath of a 105-91 defeat that dragged the Tropang 5G to a 3-1 deficit.
Lastimosa wasn’t pleased with the “showboating” Cruz pulled off during the final seconds, when the latter skipped while dribbling the ball past midcourt.
He did it in front of opposing guard Almond Vosotros, whom the 34-year-old had taunted with a dribble to the face following some earlier contact.
Vosotros went on to foul Cruz with 9.4 seconds left that sent the latter to the line, and he made both of his free throws to further add to their margin.
But while all of the Beermen celebrated, Lastimosa was left fuming with what he saw, and made sure to let his piece be known as he spoke to the press.
Photo by PBA Images
“He was showboating eh,” he said.
“Magkasama kami sa NLEX niyan eh, with Coach Yeng. And wala, dinadaan niya na lang sa yabang lahat eh.”
Yes, the two worked together in NLEX during the time of Coach Yeng Guiao at the helm. However, that connection gets set aside as they compete in the Finals.
It was not his only incident of the night, as he also reportedly “shooed away” Chris Ross, who approached the TNT bench to commend Erram.
Regarding Cruz, Lastimosa even had a parting shot before leaving the venue.
“Wala munang kaibigan dito. Wala munang kaibigan,” the 61-year-old said.
“He’s just acting up. He’s just like a little boy. You can quote me on that.”
#WATCH: “DINADAAN NA LANG NIYA SA YABANG LAHAT”
TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa airs his frustration on Jericho Cruz’s antics in Game 4 of the #PBA2025 Finals 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/CmuRj9JAgY
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) July 20, 2025
